In a brazen nighttime burglary in Cárdenas, three young men entered a home and stole a fan right from under the owner's nose while she slept, sparking outrage on social media and renewing public outcry over the security situation in Cuba.
According to a Facebook post by content creator Christian Arboláez on Saturday, the incident occurred at a house located at Laborde number 561, between Calzada and Coronel Verdugo streets in the city of Matanzas.
The intruders made off with several items from a nail table and a black portable multifunctional fan equipped with LED lights and a carry handle.
The woman realized what had happened when she no longer felt the breeze from the fan while sleeping. Upon waking and noticing the presence of strangers, they fled the scene.
Fortunately, neither the woman nor her elderly mother was physically harmed. However, the event has left the family with a lingering fear of unknown individuals invading their home during the night.
"Imagine waking up to find strangers have been walking around you while you slept. What if she had woken up earlier? How can that lady ever feel safe enough to close her eyes again? It wasn't just a fan they stole; they robbed her of her peace of mind," Arboláez wrote.
The family also reported that the same individuals attempted to break into another house on the corner. They have requested the community's help in locating the fan, which might be sold without a remote or charger, according to the post.
The incident has prompted numerous reactions from users expressing anger and concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents. "It's a sad reality we're facing, with these occurrences becoming all too common," one commenter noted.
Some users blamed the legal framework, calling for harsher penalties for criminals. "If the Government doesn't reform the laws against these thieves, soon going outside will become impossible; criminals have taken over the country," another user stated.
A third individual criticized the current penalties with a blunt remark: "As long as the punishments remain lenient, they'll keep stealing and causing havoc."
Questions were also raised about the official crime statistics in Matanzas. "I don't know where Matanzas got its figures on murders and thefts... What happens is they didn't have enough zeros... the distortion of statistics is good for that," another netizen pointed out.
"Not even in our own homes can we feel safe while sleeping anymore!" Arboláez concluded.
This case underscores the ongoing worry among citizens expressed on social media regarding burglaries in occupied homes, even while residents are asleep.
In August, thieves broke into another home in the municipality during the night while a family, including children, slept and stole an EcoFlow battery, a scooter, and a PlayStation, among other items; the police took over seven hours to respond to the complaint.
In July, residents of the Fructuoso Rodríguez neighborhood had to capture and tie up an alleged thief themselves because authorities failed to arrive.
In August, the private business Mercado Real was broken into for the second time in less than a year, and agents told the owners they were responsible for protecting the premises.
The decline in safety in Cárdenas is part of a broader trend affecting the entire province. According to data from the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, Matanzas led the national crime rankings in the first half of 2026 with 18 homicides, 21 assaults, and 155 verified robberies, the highest figures in the country for those categories.
Nationally, the same organization recorded 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, marking a 115% increase from the previous year, with theft being the most common crime, totaling 1,536 cases.
Understanding Crime in Cárdenas and Matanzas
What items were stolen during the Cárdenas burglary?
The burglars took several items, including a black portable multifunctional fan with LED lights and a carry handle, as well as items from a nail table.
How did the family respond to the burglary in Cárdenas?
The family reported the incident on social media, expressing their fear and requesting assistance in locating the stolen fan, which may be sold without a remote or charger.
What are the broader implications of the rising crime rates in Matanzas?
The increase in crime, particularly thefts and assaults, reflects a concerning trend in Matanzas, with the province leading national crime rankings. This has heightened public anxiety and calls for stricter legal measures.