Robbers are now using a new technique to steal from people.
It’s called jugging.
Jugging robbers wait for the victim to withdraw cash from the bank or an ATM or a store, follow them, and rob them.
And they are targetting women, the elderly, and those who are petite or small in stature in particular.
It’s becoming a big problem for the police and for the security of local residents.
In Austin, Texas alone, there have already been 84 reported cases of jugging robbery and more than $500,000 of stolen property since January 2022.
“There, they are approached, threatened with violence, or assaulted while the suspect demands the money or aggressively takes the cash bag,” Austin Police Department said in a statement. “This crime happens when cash bags are visible as the victim leaves the bank or ATM.”
The latest jugging was a woman who was violently attacked outside her house in Austin. The robber stole her purse, which contained a lot of cash.
“As the victim entered her home, the first suspect ran up behind her, violently attacked her, and stole her purse, which had the money from the bank inside,” Austin police reported. “During the assault, the suspect threw the victim around and dragged her across the pavement.”
The woman had to be taken to the hospital because she suffered injuries from the attack.
The suspect followed her in a car that was driven by another person.
It happens fast.
And it’s no longer just in Austin, Texas. A woman in Stockton, California also reported a jugging crime.
She had gone to the bank to withdraw money from a teller. When she was done, she made the five-minute drive home. The theft happened when she parked in her driveway.
“All of a sudden, I heard tapping on my window, and it was just so quick and the window was being broke out and I started screaming,” she said.
The money she withdrew, her ATM card, her credit cards, and her cell phone were all stolen from her. And within an hour, the credit card was charged with over $4,000 of purchases.
The police have shared tips.
There are ways to stay safe from jugging robbers. Be aware of your surroundings. Check to see if anyone suspicious is lurking about and following you.
Check your mirrors if you’re driving. If you feel like you’re being followed, don’t go straight home. Go somewhere else first.
You can either call 911 or go to a police station immediately.
Eliminate any distractions
You don’t want anything going on that will prevent you from being aware of your surroundings.
Avoid stepping out of the bank or ATM vestibule or store with your earbuds on or talking or texting on your phone.
Secure your cash somewhere safe, preferably, somewhere that’s not your bag.
“Just be aware that people could be watching you all the time,” the Stockton victim shared.
Learn more about this new trend and how to avoid it in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
