The message includes a series of recommendations to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
14ymedio, Havana, October 18, 2025 / Cuba’s economic crisis is reflected not only in shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. The collapse is also reflected in an increase in crime. This Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a security alert on its official social media account, warning its citizens about an “increase in robberies and violent incidents” on the island.
The warning comes at a particularly sensitive time for the population, with increasingly prolonged power outages and inflation that has driven up the prices of basic goods. “The deteriorating economic conditions have led to an increase in robberies and violent incidents, including knife robberies, minor attacks on mission vehicles, and home invasions and theft of property,” the diplomatic note states.
The message includes a series of recommendations to avoid becoming a victim of crime: lock doors and windows at night, remove valuables from patios and balconies, keep cell phones charged, and avoid displaying cash in public places. The Embassy also advises people to “limit alcohol consumption” and “never accept drinks from strangers.”
Although the Cuban government avoids openly acknowledging the increase in violence and common crime, citizen reports and social media posts highlight a reality that many residents experience daily.
For months, users in various provinces have shared testimonies of street robberies, home burglaries, and assaults on drivers and passengers in private vehicles. The deterioration of public safety is exacerbated by fuel shortages and constant power outages. Power outages, which in many places have lasted for more than 30 hours at a time, create fertile ground for criminal activity.
The diplomatic headquarters in Havana maintains its emergency telephone line active.
Neither the Cuban Ministry of the Interior nor the state press have published recent statistics on violent crime. The most recent official figures correspond to previous years and tend to be fragmented. The regime’s usual strategy has been to minimize the problem or attribute it to “media campaigns” abroad.
However, even in state-controlled media, signs of concern have crept in indirectly. Reports on police operations, warnings to the public, and the insistence on “increasing public vigilance” demonstrate that authorities, internally, recognize a rise in crime. “The blackouts are being used as a pretext for criminal activity,” the U.S. Embassy warned directly, in a tone that contrasts with the silence of Cuban institutions.
The feeling of vulnerability isn’t limited to marginalized neighborhoods. Central areas of the capital, traditionally considered safer, have also experienced an increase in robberies. Several diplomats and workers from international organizations have reported incidents in recent months, according to sources close to the foreign community on the island.
Insecurity is closely linked to economic collapse. With soaring inflation, wages in devalued peso, and a growing informal economy, crime has become a desperate means of survival for some. The Embassy’s warning not only urges caution but also instructs its citizens to “be good witnesses,” meaning to observe details of appearance, clothing, vehicles, and license plates if they witness a crime. This recommendation reflects an implicit recognition that incidents could increase.
The diplomatic mission in Havana maintains its emergency telephone line and reminds U.S. citizens that they can contact their consular section for assistance.
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