A Cuban identified as Jenni Lucas, who runs a small party and event decoration business, reported that thieves raided the location where she operated her venture and criticized the police for their lack of results following the robbery. Her experience led her to issue a direct warning to Cubans abroad: do not invest in businesses for your family members on the island.
On his social media, Lucas promotes works under the name Decoraciones JLY, mainly setups and arrangements with balloons for birthdays and other celebrations.
In a video posted on Facebook, the woman walks through the establishment and shows the shelves nearly empty after the looting.
"A place that was full. All those shelves were full. That's what they left me. That right there, what’s there, three crappy things and that," he recounts.
But the loss of the merchandise is not the only thing she is reporting. Jenni especially questions the response she claims to have received from the authorities after reporting the theft.
"And the police simply tell you it's under investigation. There’s no problem of any kind," he states. He also shows a folder in which, as he explains, he keeps the documentation for his business.
"I have a file [archive] filled with all my papers, with the project, with all the crap they ask for here to get things done, I have it. And nothing, nothing happens. They stole from you, tough luck. Absolutely nothing happens," he laments.
The entrepreneur asserts that the robbery left her with debts for third-party merchandise that she had in the establishment, which were also stolen.
"Behind the robbery, you find yourself with nothing and having to pay money—money that isn't yours and that nobody cares about; absolutely nobody cares that you've been robbed," he explains.
Based on her experience, Jenni believes that private entrepreneurs are unprotected against this type of crime.
"As you are unique, since this is not from the State, nothing happens, that's it," he states.
Their most powerful message is directed at Cubans living outside the island who send money to help their relatives start businesses.
"If your relative is in Cuba and you want to help them in some way, don't set up a business for them. Don't set up a business, because unfortunately here in Cuba, those who have a small business have no rights and no police protection," he warns.
The post generated numerous comments from people who recounted similar experiences. One user claimed that she was robbed in February 2025 at the Exhibition Center and that, despite the police taking statements and the alleged perpetrators being identified, "they are still at large." Another reported that thieves emptied her café in the early morning and questioned why, despite the fingerprints found, the case had not progressed.
The report comes amidst growing concerns about the security situation in Cuba. The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Auditing documented 2,833 verified crimes during 2025, which is a 115% increase compared to the previous year and 337% higher than in 2023. Theft topped the records, with 1,536 cases.
The Ministry of the Interior itself acknowledged in February 2026 a 25% increase in property crimes, attributing it to the "complex economic situation."
The case of Jenni is not the first to affect small entrepreneurs. At the end of July, a Cuban pastry chef reported the theft of the equipment that she used to support her business, while in May there was a reported break-in at a private jewelry store in Cienfuegos.
"The police don't care, the State doesn't care, nobody cares, so don't do it," Jenni concludes.
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