An elderly man was reportedly caught this Saturday stealing a bottle of rum during the agricultural fair at La Normal Park, in the Cerro municipality of Havana, in an incident recorded on video and shared by independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
According to witnesses present, the incident occurred at the usual venue of the agricultural fair in the Cerro municipality, amidst the usual hustle and bustle, and quickly turned into a public spectacle.
The scene, far from going unnoticed, sparked shouts, a crowd of people, and the pressure of those demanding immediate explanations.
In the video, the elderly man is seen being led away by the police, while the crowd shouts, "Right in the face! Hard to the face!"
A vulnerable and crisis-stricken population
The episode reflects an increasingly widespread reality in Cuba, where the economic crisis is pushing vulnerable sectors of the population to extreme situations.
The minimum pension increased from 1,528 to 3,056 Cuban pesos per month, according to recent data, but this increase is insufficient compared to the actual cost of living, as the basic food basket requires at least 30,000 pesos per month.
The social context exacerbates the situation. Havana is among the provinces with the highest crime rates in the country, and thefts in public spaces have become frequent.
Recently, Cuban official television admitted to daytime thefts of bars at the Finca de los Monos, an unusual acknowledgment of the seriousness of the issue.
Other recent cases illustrate the magnitude of the phenomenon, such as the massive theft in a Havana home where thieves took valuable equipment and belongings.
The government itself had acknowledged that crime remained high but with a tendency to decrease, although daily events contradict that official optimism.
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