Residents and passersby on Rastro Street in Santiago de Cuba captured an elderly man this Thursday who, according to witnesses, was engaged in scamming pedestrians, although the specific modus operandi he used was not detailed.
The individual was tied to a pole in the middle of the street, and the neighbors waited for the arrival of a police car for his formal transfer to a police unit, reported independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on his Facebook account.
The comments posted alongside the story capture the residents' outrage and offer nuances regarding the causes and consequences of the incident.
Some users agreed that there are those who take advantage of their appearance and age to commit fraud. "From my own experience, there are people who use age and appearance to scam," wrote a neighbor.
Others pointed out that need does not justify criminal behavior and called for justice to be served. "There are many people experiencing the same need who don’t steal or commit fraud; they prefer to ask for help," noted an internet user.
Several comments identified the arrested individual as Manuel, a well-known person in the area, and accused him of scamming neighbors for some time.
"That's Manolo, he lives on Morro Road. He’s been scamming for a while now, and he finally got caught," stated another user, while others called for exemplary measures against those committing crimes amid the economic crisis.
The community, according to reports, chose to take citizen action due to the perception of impunity and the need to protect pedestrians, until the police authorities could take charge of the alleged scammer.
A person recently reported having been a victim of a scam in Cuba via WhatsApp, where criminals posed as a family member to request money under the pretense of an emergency at the airport.
However, the Cuban María Padilla reported on social media, at the end of September, that police officers in Camagüey refused to investigate a phone scam attempt of which she was a victim, despite her providing specific information about the alleged criminals.
Street violence in Santiago de Cuba has resulted in several alarming incidents in recent weeks as evidence of the increasing insecurity on the island. Citizens claim that violent and criminal acts have risen without an effective response from the authorities.
They also demand greater control and security, highlighting a growing sense of impunity that puts the most vulnerable communities in the province at risk.
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