A young Cuban has issued a warning to parents who have emigrated to the United States and have children on the island, urging them to refrain from sending jewelry or valuable items due to the rise in assaults on minors.
In a video posted on TikTok by user @caliope128, the young woman points out that she has been noticing a concerning pattern in the behavior of some Cuban parents abroad. "I have been observing a behavior among people over there in the United States regarding the children they leave here in Cuba. Some people, not all, I have seen fill their children here with gold jewelry. Their children roam around late in the afternoon, late at night, adorned with gold chains, earrings, and everything."
He warns that this practice makes them targets for crime. "There is something happening here, which is no secret to anyone, and that is the assaults. They are robbing minors, who are the ones who are most often out and about," he alerted.
The young woman urged parents to reflect on the consequences of their decisions. "It's not that you're not going to give your child a gift they like, such as a chain, but think carefully about what you're going to do, as you could be putting your child in an embarrassing situation that could endanger their life."
Additionally, he questioned the need to put on appearances before the community. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone; you don't need to show the community whether you help your child or not. It's better to send them a food package; they will appreciate that much more," he advised.
For her, some parents use their children as a means to showcase prosperity. "Many parents, unfortunately, are in the United States, while their children are here in Cuba, and they adorn them with gold jewelry to show others, their neighbors, that they have their children here well taken care of. Be careful, because you might be putting your child on a tightrope. There are a lot of bad people, and they observe who receives support from abroad and who does not."
He ended his message by urging responsibility: "Take my advice and call yourself to conscience. Greetings and blessings to all."
The reactions to the video support the young woman's warning. Several users agreed that thefts targeting minors have become frequent and expressed that they prefer to send useful items rather than expose their children to danger.
A user stated that her daughter is forbidden to go out with her phone "because they even rob for that." Another mother noted that she doesn't send jewelry to her son because she doesn't want to "put my son's life at risk." Other comments deemed the advice to be spot on and expressed gratitude for the reflection. It was also mentioned that "this has always happened, but now it's worse," and that many children are pressured to compare themselves with others based on what they wear.
Citizen insecurity in Cuba has increased in recent years amid an economic crisis that has spurred theft as a means of survival for some sectors. Social media and independent outlets have documented numerous reports of assaults, many of which target minors displaying expensive items such as mobile phones, electric bicycles, or jewelry. In this context, the concern for protecting the youth has become a priority for many families, both inside and outside the country.
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