A doctor from Santiago de Cuba identified as Yaniel Rivera Boza, whose phone was snatched by a young man, chased the thief through several streets until he managed to catch up with him and retrieve his phone, with the assistance of neighbors who responded to his cries for help.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night on Celda Street, as reported on Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
According to the account, Rivera Boza, known in the neighborhood as "Boza," has a habit of extending an electrical line from his house so that his neighbors can charge their phones, fans, and other devices during frequent blackouts, and he even maintains outdoor lighting to benefit those living in the area.
It was precisely in that atmosphere of trust and neighborhood solidarity that the robbery occurred. Initially, the doctor thought it was a joke, but upon seeing the young man quickly heading toward the corner, he realized what was happening and rushed out to chase after him.
The chase extended through several streets: the individual attempted to escape from the Celda area to Trocha and then ventured into Pizarro, while Rivera Boza was shouting for help.
"The calls mobilized residents of the neighborhood, who joined in the pursuit until they managed to intercept the young man and recover the phone. (...) Two people were allegedly involved in the robbery, although only one could be captured. The second suspected accomplice managed to escape," specified Mayeta Labrada.
In a second post, the journalist identified the detainee as Víctor Medina, after receiving information from several people who recognized him in the disseminated images.
According to sources consulted, Medina had reportedly lived for a time in Matanzas before recently returning to his hometown of Santiago de Cuba.
For his part, Rivera Boza formalized the complaint with the police. The doctor preferred not to make any public statements.
The incident occurs amidst multiple citizen reports of violent thefts in Santiago de Cuba. At the beginning of the month, residents of the Trocha and Gasómetro areas alerted to a wave of nighttime assaults that kept those passing through these streets of the city on edge.
In many cases, it is the neighbors themselves who must apprehend the thieves, given the limited police response to rising crime. This week, several individuals detained a man who snatched a cell phone from a university student in Palma Soriano, and recovered the device before the police arrived.
According to the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC), the crime rate increased unprecedentedly in Cuba during 2025: 2,833 verified crimes were recorded throughout the Island, a 115% increase compared to 2024 and a 337% increase compared to 2023. The predominant crime was theft, with 1,536 cases.
Santiago de Cuba was the fourth most affected province, with 323 confirmed cases.
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