A neighbor from the Iglesias neighborhood in Matanzas, identified as Olguita Olguita, publicly reported on Facebook that two hooded young men entered the garage of her home and stole parts of the family tricycle, the only means the family has to make a living.
"On Monday morning, two hooded young men broke into my garage and stole part of the tricycle, the only means we have to barely make ends meet, regardless of the sacrifices that humble people make," wrote the affected individual.
According to the account, the police arrived at the scene but did not arrest any suspects, despite the victim providing evidence and identifying the alleged perpetrators.
"They tell me it’s an open complaint; despite having provided evidence and suspects, they can’t arrest anyone just because I say so," questioned Olguita.
The woman sent a message laced with irony to the thieves: "Keep living off the sweat of others; you have a clear path, while those of us affected, like me, must continue to fight and curse these vandalic acts."
And he concluded his publication with a cry of helplessness: "We have nowhere to turn."
Although the rise in crime and the inaction of the police affects all of Cuba, the phenomenon is particularly pronounced in Matanzas. According to the Public Insecurity Report from the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC) for the first half of the year, the province has emerged as the epicenter of violence.
"In 2026, Matanzas ranks first nationally in homicides for the first time, with 18, followed by Santiago de Cuba with 13 and Havana with 12. Matanzas also leads in assaults, with 21," the statement details.
"In thefts, Matanzas had already taken first place in 2025 with 143 cases. In 2026, it rises to 155, despite this category decreasing significantly nationwide," he adds.
The stolen tricycle is not just any asset. These vehicles, which in the informal market can cost over 4,000 dollars, have become the main working tool for numerous families for transporting passengers, street commerce, and moving goods, in a country where public transportation is in crisis.
In August, a family from Havana with two minors lost their main source of income after their electric tricycle was stolen, in a case similar to one in Matanzas.
At the beginning of this month, a man was arrested in Guantánamo for the alleged theft of at least five of these vehicles.
In June, a tricycle was stolen in Varadero, an incident recorded by three neighborhood surveillance cameras. Three individuals were involved in the theft, though only one of them was clearly captured on the footage.
The violence associated with this type of crime has escalated alarmingly: in 2026, at least four tricycle drivers were murdered during robberies in Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara, and Guantánamo.
In Matanzas, the pattern of institutional inaction is not new either. In April, a mother reported that her home was looted in Colón and that days later no authority had visited the residence.
Related videos:
Filed under: