A solar lamp installed on the rooftop of a bank in Cárdenas was stolen, according to a report shared on Friday on Facebook by the user Christian Arboláez, which raised concerns about the security conditions of the institution and nighttime surveillance in the city of Matanzas.
The equipment was placed on the plaque of the building located at the corner of Real and Cocío. The accompanying solar panel remained at the site, although it has not been specified how the theft occurred or when it was discovered.
Arboláez's post highlighted the presence of surveillance equipment in the building. In an image shared along with the complaint, a camera can be seen installed on the facade, a detail that led internet users to question whether the security systems detected what happened.
"How is it possible for someone to reach the plate of a banking institution, commit a robbery, and for no one to notice what happened? Where was the bank's security? Are there no surveillance cameras or systems capable of detecting these movements?" he wrote.
A woman who claimed to have worked as a guard at bank branches in the city provided an explanation in the comments. According to her testimony, the guards only work from eight in the morning until three or four in the afternoon, belong to the external agency Escap (Civil Aviation Security and Protection Company), and the facilities remain unmonitored after closing.
Another citizen questioned the absence of officers during the night and pointed to the Police as responsible for responding to such incidents. However, the comments published do not clarify whether the camera captured the robbery or if there was an official investigation.
The boldness of the act also caught the attention of users. "The best part is that they take it away lit in the middle of the night, because it doesn’t turn off unless you use the remote," one of them remarked.
Criticism extended to the lighting and communication conditions in Cárdenas. Residents described an "almost total darkness at night" and stated that the state-owned and sole telecommunications company, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (Etecsa), interrupts service from around midnight until after 8:00 am, a situation that, they reported, makes it difficult to call the Police or request assistance.
"Cárdenas after 6:00 pm is a lawless place, and the thefts will continue while we remain in the dark and without communication," wrote a citizen. Another user recalled a fire at the Bacteriology center during which, according to their comment, it was impossible to alert the firefighters due to the same communication issue.
According to Arboláez, "it is concerning that not even a banking institution seems to be safe from thefts. And the question is inevitable: if they cannot guarantee the security of a bank, what can we expect for the rest of the city?"
The theft of the solar lamp brings to light two concerns expressed by residents on social media: the protection of facilities and the difficulties in seeking help at night in a city that, according to their complaints, remains in darkness with limited communication.
In July, solar panels were stolen from the Maternal Home in Cárdenas, which jeopardized the care of expectant mothers.
The night before, a family in Santa Clara reported the theft of the solar lamp they had installed to light up their block during the blackouts.
Similarly, in August, photovoltaic lights on the avenues of Santiago de Cuba vanished just days after their installation.
The Provincial Defense Council of Matanzas alerted in early October about a rise in thefts from the electrical system and identified Cárdenas as one of the municipalities with the highest incidence.
However, the events do not cease, even though Opinion 475 of the Supreme People's Court classifies the theft of solar components as sabotage, with penalties of up to life imprisonment or death in serious cases.
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