Cubans Criticize Police: Focusing on Graffiti and Protests, Ignoring Theft

Renowned Cuban broadcaster Laritza Camacho shared a striking account on Facebook from her balcony in Havana. She witnessed a woman frantically chasing a man through La Normal Park in the Cerro neighborhood, after he had snatched her belongings.

The incident took place early Thursday morning, around 6:00 am, following nearly 30 hours of power outages in the area. The scene, described by the actress, served as the catalyst for a nationwide outcry.

"'Drop the ID, you must have kids like I do.' The woman was distraught, trailing the man's path, hoping to retrieve her documents," Camacho recounted.

Residents, deprived of sleep and observing from their balconies, were quick to voice a common grievance: "This is what blackouts lead to," one noted. Another bluntly added, "Plenty of police at night focused on graffiti and protests, but none now; not a single one in the early hours."

Camacho pointed out that La Normal Park is only a short distance from a police station, where between 6:00 pm and midnight, a dozen to twenty officers are typically present. Yet, their presence fails to translate into safety for locals.

She explained that the officers spend their time checking the identification and belongings of hardworking men returning home, while ignoring the open use of "the chemical"—synthetic cannabinoids—in the park, where individuals are often visibly impaired. Nor do they address the unlawful water pipe leaking continuously behind the bus stop.

"The police are looking for anti-government graffiti... Isn't what I'm describing a visible sign that screams DOWN with all its might? One doesn't always need paint to see the reality," Camacho wrote.

In closing, Camacho reflected on the sentiments of many Cubans: "The power has gone out again. This time, it seems like it won't come back, much like all those who choose and are able to leave these parts, these parks, this city, this country..."

The comments on her post confirmed that this issue extends beyond Cerro. A local from the same park revealed that the "police" are actually young military service members dressed in police uniforms, as there are hardly any Easterners left to serve as officers. Another user noted that La Normal's children's park "is a den for several addicts to 'the chemical,' and they even spend the night there."

From Santa Clara, a central resident described an equally alarming situation: "Thefts have increased not only in frequency but also in violence. We spend our days in fear and nights in anxiety." She mentioned that patrols have been absent for a long time, with young military guards stationed only in front of government stores at night, leaving the rest of the streets in "complete darkness and neglect."

A user from Holguín reported that the use of "the chemical" has become commonplace next to an elementary school, with local officials and sector leaders failing to act: "The government is only concerned with politics."

Crime is on the rise in Cuba, with residents feeling increasingly vulnerable due to a lack of effective police response, as officers focus on suppressing dissent rather than tackling criminal activity.

According to the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, 2,833 verified crimes were reported in 2025, marking a 115% increase from the previous year. The majority were thefts, totaling 1,536 cases. Havana ranked as the third most affected province with 398 incidents.

Meanwhile, the government continues to prioritize political repression to maintain its grip on power, disregarding public safety.

The independent legal organization Cubalex recorded an average of over 10 human rights violations per day in the first half of 2026, amid a significant rise in social protests and state repression targeting citizens not affiliated with opposition groups.

Between January 1 and June 30, Cubalex documented 1,894 events involving human rights violations, compared to 1,279 during the second half of 2025.