Related videos:
A resident of Matanzas reported this Saturday on Facebook two thefts of EcoFlow equipment that occurred in her immediate vicinity, both following the same pattern: the thieves use distractions to mislead the victims and steal the equipment while they are caught off guard.
The first case occurred this morning. A stranger appeared at the home of some relatives of the author, elderly individuals over 80 years old, under the pretext of asking for a glass of water.
While the lady went to get him, the criminals entered the property and took an extra battery from the EcoFlow.
They were already preparing to take the second unit when they were surprised and fled without being captured.
The second incident had occurred days earlier at a hardware store located across from his home.
According to the account, a woman distracted the store clerk while an accomplice took advantage of the diversion to steal the EcoFlow.
“More and more reports of thefts every day, and very few are being solved,” wrote the author of the post.
The report sparked dozens of reactions on social media, with many Cubans sharing similar experiences.
A commentator noted that the same method was used to rob her 86-year-old mother: "They followed her to the bedroom where the phones were. Luckily, she hadn't closed the gate, and when they achieved their goal, they left. If she had closed the gate, they would have killed her to get out. It's sad, very sad."
Another person pointed out that criminals have refined their techniques: "Sometimes they come with women and young children to empathize with the victims; sometimes they even come with elderly people to dramatize the situation in some way, and we fail to realize that the victims were already monitored and targeted in advance."
From Cárdenas, another commentator warned about a variation of the same scheme: "A woman knocks on doors asking for help and when you open, they assault you and steal from you. I don't open my gate all day long, and even less at night."
The police response also faced criticism. One user reported that "two hours after making the timely report, the operational guard had not shown up."
Another was more direct: "Crime comes and goes while the police remain indifferent. Stand with all your citizen rights and say at the corner of your house that the government management is failing, and you'll see how the revolutionary police show up in grand style."
This pattern of theft is not new in the province. In April, thieves broke into the home of an 87-year-old man in Perico while he was sleeping and stole an EcoFlow system along with two solar panels.
In February, a theft in broad daylight in Cárdenas triggered outrage on social media.
EcoFlow devices have become a primary target for crime in Cuba due to their high value —ranging from 499 to over 1,600 dollars— and their vital usefulness during the blackouts that affect the country for six to 12 hours daily.
According to the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit, in 2025 there were 2,833 verified crimes reported in Cuba, an increase of 115% compared to 2024, with thefts being the most common offense at 1,536 cases.
The author of the publication linked the phenomenon to the country's structural crisis: “Material misery is the breeding ground for human misery. Disrupted households are complicit in wrongdoing because if they do not work, they cannot provide clothing or celebrations, let alone food, given the cost of living in Cuba today.”
A commentator summarized the extent of the problem: "What is happening in Cuba has only one name: the degradation of Cuban society in all its aspects, and it is increasing more every day. From Cape San Antonio to Maisí Point."
Filed under: