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A 40-year-old man died in the municipality of Jagüey Grande, in the province of Matanzas, after triggering a homemade trap set on a farm while he was allegedly trying to steal agricultural products along with a relative.
The incident occurred at the San Rafael farm, located in the Torriente area, according to reported by the official Facebook profile “Con Todos la Victoria”.
According to the source, the man lost his life after activating a mechanism placed in the fence of the farm.
The most shocking part is that, according to the official account, the deceased and his cousin reportedly entered the property with the intention of stealing lemons.
His cousin, who was with him at the time of the incident, was detained by the authorities.
“It is certainly quite a strong way to learn a lesson, to lose one's life over a few lemons...,” the publication warned, concluding by stating that the investigation is ongoing to clarify all the details of this unfortunate incident.
Complaint from the mother of two of the deceased man's children
The case sparked intense controversy on social media.
Among the comments, the one from the mother of two children of the deceased stood out, as she claimed that the trap was designed to cause the death of whoever activated it and questioned why the owner of the property remains at liberty.
"Here writes the mother of two of your children, who are only 3 and 4 years old and still do not know that their father is dead.", she expressed.
"No one has the right to steal here, but no one has the right to take anyone's life either," the woman added.
According to his testimony, the man died almost immediately after activating the mechanism.
“The trap was set so that whoever entered would die. He died immediately; it affected all his organs: heart, liver, and lungs,” he stated, and did not hesitate to share a photo showing the condition in which the torso of the man, victim of the trap, was left.
He also reported that the deceased's cousin remains in custody, while the owner of the estate -according to his account- would be free after posting bail.
Heated debate on social media
The post sparked hundreds of comments and a debate that showcased the existing polarization in Cuba regarding the rise in thefts in rural areas and the boundaries of private property defense.
Many internet users defended the owner of the farm and justified the use of traps to prevent theft.
"That's really good, setting traps, because the bandits take everything from you. You can't even keep a bunch of bananas," commented a user.
“Whoever breaks into someone else's property knows that something like this could happen”, stated another.
Some claimed that farmers live under constant pressure from crop thefts.
“The farmers are fed up with the criminals who steal everything from them. They report it and nothing ever happens,” wrote another commenter who said he was a resident of the area.
In general, many internet users defended the right to protect crops in light of what they consider an inadequate response from authorities to crime.
"The farmer works from dawn to dusk so that a thief can come and take away the sweat of his labor," pointed out another commentator.
Critical voices regarding the use of cheats
However, others questioned the use of potentially deadly mechanisms to protect property.
"The life of a human being, no matter how much of a bandit they may be, is worth more than the productions," wrote an internet user who claimed to also own a farm.
Others warned about the danger that such devices could cause the death of innocent people.
"I have known cases where a child has lost their life due to those traps", warned an internet user.
A growing problem in the Cuban field
The case also reignited the debate over insecurity in agricultural areas of Cuba, where numerous producers report frequent thefts of crops, animals, and equipment.
In the midst of the economic crisis facing the country, the theft of agricultural products has become a recurring complaint among farmers, who state that the penalties for those responsible are usually light and do not deter repeat offenses.
At the same time, legal experts have warned that the use of traps capable of causing serious injury or death may entail criminal liability for those who set them.
As authorities investigate the case that occurred in Jagüey Grande, the incident has revealed the tension between the right to protect property and the legal limits of that defense in a context marked by scarcity and rising crime rates.
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