In broad daylight and without any kind of disguise, a man was caught on camera tearing down a section of the metal fence that marks the bus stop on Aricochea Street, in front of Parque Las Flores.
The incident occurred around two in the afternoon and was recorded on video by a passerby. The footage was shared on the Facebook profile Holguín en Fotos.
“A resident of Holguín, at 2 PM, breaks a section of the fence... and steals it. Just like that, without a care, as if picking a leaf from a plant for a remedy”, wrote the author of the post.
The video shows the man bending a section of the fence until he completely detaches it, then leaving with the piece of metal over his shoulder. Nobody intervened. Nobody shouted. Nobody called the police.
The robbery occurred in a central, frequented location, supposedly under surveillance, and according to neighbors, with security cameras installed.
A common phenomenon, but now without masks
The scene sparked a wave of reactions. Although the theft of public property is not new in Cuba—there have been documented cases of missing park benches, manhole covers, fences from sports facilities, and even medical equipment—what surprised people this time was the total impunity with which the act was carried out.
"He took it as if it were nothing, as if he owned the park," commented a user.
"Thus, the fences of the Quijote have gone, those of the playground, those of the EIDE…," added another internet user.
"The law is no longer respected... nor is it enforced."
The outrage was not directed solely at the thief. A significant portion of the comments criticized the lack of police presence and institutional neglect.
“There are cameras in that area, what good are they if no one checks them?” wrote a follower.
“The police only show up if someone protests with a sign, not if urban furniture is being stolen,” was another frequently heard criticism.
Even those who defended the decision to record instead of intervening physically pointed out that there are no guarantees for citizens facing these kinds of acts.
" What if the guy is armed? What if he waits for him later to take revenge?" asked one commentator.
"Here, people have been jailed for defending themselves in their own home," recalled another.
Delinquency or desperation?
The incident also sparked a debate about the causes of vandalism. While some attribute it to extreme poverty and desperation, others see it as a clear indication of a loss of values and social decay.
"That man surely sold her to eat, where else is he going to get money in this country?" commented a user.
"Throughout life, there has always been need, but never with such shamelessness," replied another.
"I know an 80-year-old man who cleans yards for a few pesos. Why couldn't he do the same?" an outraged neighbor wrote.
Some comments attempted to justify the theft if the gate belonged to the state, arguing that the people "are simply returning what the government takes from them."
A postcard from the collapse
Beyond the specific theft, the scene was interpreted by many as a symbol of the moral collapse of Cuban society.
The loss of a sense of belonging, indifference, widespread distrust, and fear of taking action partially explain why such acts are becoming increasingly frequent…and more public.
“It’s no longer just what they steal. It’s how they steal it, when, and in front of whom,” wrote a woman.
"Similarly, they have taken the banks, the streetlights, the manhole covers... The country is falling apart and no one is doing anything," said another.
One of the most frequently heard comments was: "Respect for the law has been lost because the law has lost respect for us."
"It’s not just a gate."
In the comments, there were those who lamented the normalization of these events: “It’s just a fence, but behind it lies a city that is crumbling,” wrote a young woman.
Others questioned the recording and posting on social media without more significant consequences: “If nothing is done beyond the video, this will keep happening over and over again,” they said.
“The country is so broken that they don't even try to hide it anymore. They steal in broad daylight, right in front of you, and no one sees anything”, declared an outraged internet user.
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