Seven young individuals were arrested in the area of Siete Matas, in the municipality of Pinar del Río, after they assaulted the Mipyme Almacenes Escambray and threatened its security guard, according to the official Facebook profile De Pinar Soy.
The news sparked a debate that goes beyond the criminal act itself: 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 security guard of the establishment reported to the PNR that he was threatened by the group, which broke into the premises and stole induction cookers, rice cookers, televisions, solar lamps, and other appliances, as well as 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 to their involvement and the PNR recovered at least a significant portion of the stolen goods.
"If it had been in a private home, perhaps the news wouldn't have even come out."
The police response was acknowledged, but that recognition was accompanied by sustained criticism regarding the selectivity of the response.
“When you read this, you think the PNR acted wonderfully, but then you realize it was because they stole from a small business. If it had been a robbery at a private home, perhaps the news wouldn’t have even come out,” wrote a commenter.
Another person shared their own experience: "That small and medium-sized enterprise was saved because a year ago I reported and identified those who stole from me, and nothing has happened since. 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 PNR's response was swift, and that should be acknowledged. What is needed is for that same speed to be present whenever a citizen reports a theft," noted a third internet user.
The controversy over a photo of seven people "taken from the internet"
Another aspect of the debate revolved around the photograph used by the official profile to accompany the information.
From Pinar Soy referenced an image depicting seven people with blurred faces, which is precisely the same number of young individuals whose detention was announced in the publication.
He simply accompanied the image with the literal indication: «Photo taken from the internet».
The source did not identify the people in the photograph nor explain if they had any connection to the case. The decision was heavily criticized in the comments.
Several users questioned why information about seven detainees was illustrated with a blurred photograph of another seven people taken from the internet, without clarifying its source or accurately explaining the connection between the image and the reported events.
The most incredible part 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 official media when it comes to reporting their police achievements.
A rising crime rate that the regime cannot hide
The case is part of a documented rise in criminal activity in Cuba that the authorities themselves have acknowledged.
The Cuban Citizen Auditing Observatory (OCAC) recorded 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, a 115% increase compared to 2024, with thefts being the most common crime, totaling 1,536 cases.
In the first half of 2026, 1,319 crimes were recorded, 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 it publicly showcased suspected thieves arrested in Havana, eliciting similarly divided reactions.
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