Official press warns of the increase in motorbike thefts in Cuba

Increase in motorbike thefts in Cuba worries the population. An article from the Cienfuegos weekly 5 de septiembre refers to the phenomenon.

The theft of electric mopeds in Cuba has been increasing, becoming a problem that affects both owners and authorities. Recent cases have shown how quickly criminals operate and the difficulty of recovering the vehicles once stolen.

Theft of motorbikes in public streets

One of the incidents occurred in Cienfuegos, when two people were caught transporting a motorbike without helmets or documentation. The agents of the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), noticing their suspicious behavior, tried to stop them. When the individuals refused, they fled, but were captured shortly after.

While they were being taken to the station, a woman arrived desperately to report the theft of her moped, the same one the police had recovered minutes earlier. Her reaction was one of relief upon learning that her vehicle was safe.

In another case in Palmira, an owner left her moped parked near her house and it disappeared within minutes. Thanks to the quick action of her family and the authorities, those responsible were arrested within a few days. However, the moped had already been modified in an attempt to conceal its origin.

Sophisticated methods to cover up thefts

According to Captain Yesenia Villazón Rojas, criminal instructor of the Provincial Criminal Investigations Unit, many of these thefts are due to the negligence of the owners, who leave their motorbikes in public areas without additional security measures. Although installing locks and alarms helps, it is not an absolute guarantee, as criminals have learned to easily bypass them.

Investigations have revealed that there are organized networks dedicated to the theft and alteration of these vehicles. The criminals not only change the color and parts, but also assemble new mopeds with stolen components, apply stickers, and modify the lights to make them unrecognizable. In some cases, the mopeds are recovered in their entirety, but in others only isolated parts are found, leaving the owners with little hope of fully recovering their property.

Receiving stolen goods: another legal problem

In addition to theft, the possession of stolen motorbikes is also a crime. Many people buy these vehicles without demanding documentation, which puts them at risk of losing both the money and the moped if it is proven to come from a criminal act. Captain Villazón Rojas warns that those who buy without verifying the origin of the motorbike may face legal consequences, as well as losing the purchased vehicle.

Authorities have emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicious situations and properly protecting these assets. In light of the increase in thefts, it is recommended not to leave motorbikes unattended and, whenever possible, to keep them in secure locations.

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