Attempted theft of an electric motorcycle in Santiago de Cuba ends with the thief captured by neighbors

An attempted theft of an electric motorcycle was thwarted this Thursday thanks to the prompt intervention of several neighbors in a central area of Santiago de Cuba.

The independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported on his Facebook account that the incident occurred "on Reloj Street, between San Francisco and San Gerónimo," when a man was caught "trying to steal an electric motorcycle" and "the neighbors captured him" before he could escape.

"The subject was caught by several people from the area and subdued on the ground until the police arrived," reported Mayeta Labrada, who also shared images of the moment the alleged thief was restrained with ropes by local residents.

The photographs show the suspect lying on the ground and held by the feet, surrounded by several neighbors who prevented his escape while waiting for the arrival of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). According to the journalist, the incident occurred "in broad daylight, just a few meters from Parque Céspedes."

The post triggered numerous reactions among internet users, who agreed in condemning the rise in thefts and the lack of police action. One comment lamented that "the police no longer carry out nighttime patrols," while another pointed out that "the laws in this country are too lenient."

There were also users who expressed sadness over the decline in security in Santiago de Cuba: “My God, from the images, he looks like an elderly gentleman... how Cuba is doing,” wrote one person. Others pointed out the lack of lighting in communities like Petrocasa, where they claim that “the darkness is terrible and the thefts are something else.”

So far, no official details have been provided regarding the identity of the detainee or their legal situation. The authorities have also not made any statements about the incident.

This new incident adds to another recent case that occurred in the neighborhood of El Salao, also in Santiago de Cuba, where the neighbors detained a suspected thief who was caught attempting to break into a home.

In both incidents, citizens took action to prevent the thefts and detained the suspects until the arrival of the PNR, reflecting the growing distrust in the institutions responsible for order and security in the city.