Seven young individuals were apprehended in the town of Siete Matas, located in the municipality of Pinar del Río, after assaulting the Mipyme Almacenes Escambray and threatening its security guard, as reported by the official Facebook profile De Pinar Soy.
The news sparked a discussion that goes beyond the criminal act: many Cubans questioned whether the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) responds with the same urgency when the victims are ordinary citizens.
The assault and the arrests
According to the publication, the custodian of the premises reported to the PNR that he had been threatened by the group, which broke into the establishment and stole induction cookers, rice cookers, televisions, solar lamps, and other appliances, in addition to an unspecified amount of cash.
Days later, the same source confirmed the arrest of the alleged perpetrators and identified three of them by name: Adonis, Kemay, and Luis.
Everyone confessed their involvement and the PNR recovered at least a significant portion of the stolen goods.
"If it had been in a private home, maybe the news wouldn't have even come out."
The speed of the police was acknowledged, but that recognition came with sustained criticism regarding the selectivity of their response.
“When you read this, you think that the PNR acted wonderfully, but then you realize it was because they stole from a small business. If it had been a robbery in a private home, maybe the news wouldn’t have even come out,” wrote a commentator.
Another person recounted their own experience: "That small business was saved because a year ago I reported and identified those who stole from me, and until now nothing has happened at all. In my case, I ended up being fined for injuries. I wish all thefts received the same attention."
Even those who appreciated the outcome demanded consistency.
"The action of the PNR was swift, and it should be acknowledged. What is needed is for that same speed to occur whenever a citizen reports a theft," noted a third internet user.
The controversy over a photo of seven people "taken from the internet"
Another front in the debate revolved around the photograph used by the official profile to accompany the information.
From Pinar Soy, it was mentioned as a reference an image featuring seven people with blurred faces, which is precisely the same number of young individuals whose detention was announced in the post.
He just accompanied the image with the literal indication: “Photo taken from the internet”.
The source did not identify the individuals appearing in the photograph nor explained if they had any connection to the case. The decision was met with significant criticism in the comments.
Several users questioned why information about seven detainees was illustrated with a photograph of another seven blurred individuals taken from the internet, without clarifying its source or clearly explaining the connection between the image and the reported events.
The most incredible thing is that the image chosen to illustrate the news refers to the arrest of seven Honduran police officers in 2024 for corruption. This finding confirms the lack of seriousness and professionalism of the official media when reporting their police achievements.
A rising crime rate that the regime cannot hide
The case is part of a documented rise in crime in Cuba that the authorities themselves have acknowledged.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC) recorded 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, an increase of 115% compared to 2024, with theft being the most common crime, accounting for 1,536 cases.
In the first half of 2026, there were recorded 1,319 crimes, averaging 7.3 crimes per day.
Pinar del Río has been a recurring scene of such events.
In June 2026, the PNR resolved the theft of over three million pesos intended for retirees in San Luis in less than 72 hours.
The regime also applied this pattern of communicating arrests through official profiles in August 2026, when they publicly showcased suspected thieves detained in Havana, provoking similarly divided reactions.
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