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The theft of an EcoFlow power station that occurred in broad daylight at a home in Cárdenas, Matanzas, has sparked a wave of outrage on social media and has once again brought the issues of insecurity and the feeling of impunity to the forefront of the debate.
The complaint was publicly made on Facebook by Annelyss Gómez, who recounted in the first person how several individuals forced their way into her home and went straight for the equipment. “I don’t know how much longer people in Cuba are going to continue fighting each other; you have to be shameless and brazen to show up at a house at 2:00 PM with a crowbar, break down a door, enter all the way into the house, and go directly to grab my mom's Ecoflow,” she wrote.
In his testimony, Gómez made it clear that the equipment was not a luxury, but a necessity acquired through sacrifice from abroad. “We are not millionaires; we work and fight so that at least our families have what is essential,” he stated. He also explained that the thieves had prior knowledge of the location and the object they were looking for. “They knew exactly where it was and didn't take anything else,” he noted.
The reporter specified that the robbery occurred "at 2:00 PM today, February 8, on Tenería Street between Amistad and Neptuno," and emphasized that it was an area that usually has a lot of foot traffic. "Now, a block that is always busy, today no one saw anything; this is how we are," she lamented.
In her post, Gómez also expressed her frustration over the lack of consequences for such incidents. “Cuba is in bad shape, and nothing is going to happen because even if they took fingerprints, if it's not a criminal, nothing will come of it,” she wrote. She also made it clear that she does not intend to remain silent: “But I am not going to stay quiet; enough is enough.”
The post generated dozens of comments from people expressing solidarity, anger, and concern for the vulnerability of seniors. One user warned: "From now on, be careful with your grandmother being home alone; the shameless take advantage." Another commented: "It's not a luxury, it's a necessity, especially if there are elderly people in the house."
Several comments agreed that the robbery was not accidental. “That wasn’t some stranger, or rather, it was planned by someone who knows the house,” wrote one user. Another person reinforced this idea by pointing out, “That’s someone close by; no one who isn’t well familiar with everything in the house would dare.”
The perception of impunity is repeatedly reflected in the reactions. "If the laws were stronger, thieves wouldn't be out in packs, but they return to the streets as if nothing happened," commented one user. Another summed up the general sentiment by stating, "Crime has a free pass now."
There were also direct questions regarding the lack of an institutional response. “What about the police?” one person wrote, while another expressed the resignation that many say they feel: “There are always people here, and no one sees anything; that's how we are.”
Several messages emphasized the need to take extra precautions with elderly individuals. "Elderly people are advised not to open the door to anyone," warned a user, reflecting a fear that is echoed in various parts of the country.
A context marked by repeated thefts
The case reported in Cárdenas adds to other recent incidents that have come to light in various provinces. In Havana, a family reported a large-scale robbery at their home, where the thieves took multiple belongings, including a husky dog that was part of the family unit.
In Artemisa, security cameras captured several individuals entering residential yards in the early morning to steal chickens, a practice that directly impacts families who rely on raising animals for their food or economic support.
Reports of thefts targeting workers and content creators have also been made public, involving the stealing of essential equipment for their work.
Although the cases are different, they share common elements: thefts occurring at any time of day, essential belongings stolen, and a citizenry that feels unprotected. Annelyss Gómez's report adds to a collection of testimonies that reflect a growing concern and a loss of confidence in the ability to respond to crime.
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