Altercation on a bus in Santiago de Cuba: Passengers force the police to arrest two thieves.

Passengers of a bus in Santiago de Cuba demanded that some police officers capture two suspected thieves who were on the bus.

The incident took place on Monday afternoon. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta received statements and a video recorded by witnesses of the event.

It was the passengers who identified the criminals and detained them inside the bus, from where they requested the intervention of the authorities who were nearby.

Three police officers boarded the bus on 4th Street, where they proceeded to handcuff the alleged criminals, who were taken off the vehicle under custody.

The images shared by Mayeta show the police taking the accused away under the watchful eyes of the passengers.

The incident has generated widespread interest in the community, as many residents have shown their support for the passengers who, courageously, helped capture the criminals.

This fact highlights the active role of citizens in the fight against crime in Cuba and underscores the urgency of stricter measures to combat such acts in transportation and other public spaces.

In September 2024, crime in Santiago de Cuba showed a worrying increase, reflected in several violent incidents.

On September 1, some neighbors captured a thief who had broken into a house to steal. The patrol arrived quickly, but the shouts and tension among the residents showed the insecurity and distrust towards the police, whom they accuse of being ineffective in controlling crime on the island.

On September 12, in the same eastern city, another thief was caught inside a house and attacked by the owner with machete blows to the head. This incident highlights how many citizens have chosen to take justice into their own hands due to the lack of effective responses from the authorities.

At the end of the same month, the Supreme Court of Cuba downplayed the seriousness of the situation, arguing that the insecurity on the island is "exaggerated by social media," a narrative that strongly contrasts with the daily experiences of many Cubans.