Montgomery County Sheriff's Office seeking bank-jugging suspect

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- On July 28, 2018, at about 12:30 pm, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store located at 20850 FM 1485, New Caney, Texas in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle/bank jugging.

When Deputies arrived they learned from the victim that he was had just left the Chase Bank located at 20798 F.M. 1485, New Caney, Texas. After leaving the bank, the victim drove to the O’Reilly’s next door and went inside to purchase some items. After a few minutes, the victim came back outside and discovered his passenger front window was broken and his money missing along with other items.

Video surveillance showed the victim leave the bank parking lot, with a grey or silver passenger car following. The victim pulls into the O’Reilly parking lot with the suspect vehicle following. This is the second burglary of a motor vehicle/bank jugging from this bank within a week. Bank jugging isn’t a new crime trend so below are some steps you can take to insure you won’t be a victim.

What is Bank Jugging?

The term is used to describe suspects who sit in bank parking lots or nearby business parking lots and watch customers go in and out of a bank. The suspects follow the customers they believe are in possession of cash and look for an opportunity to burglarize their vehicles or rob them directly.

• “Juggers” most frequently target customers carrying bank bags, bank envelopes and coin boxes
• Most “jugging” burglary of motor vehicles occurs at retail or commercial businesses the customer stops at after leaving the bank.
• If a customer leaves the bank and does not leave their money unattended in the vehicle, most “Juggers” will go back to the bank to target another banking customer; however, some “Juggers” will confront the customer in an attempt to rob them by taking the money by force.

Tips to protect yourself against bank jugging

• Watch for occupied cars with no one getting out - sometimes with tinted windows - parked with a clear view of the bank's front doors, ATM, or commercial drive-thru lane. Most likely the vehicle has multiple occupants.
• Suspect vehicles are backed into parking space with clear view of the front doors of the bank, ATM or drive thru line.
• Be discreet, conceal your money before you leave the bank.
• Don't openly carry bank bags, envelopes, or coin boxes. Use a different type of bag.
• Watch for people following you.
• If you think you're being targeted, call 911 and keep the dispatcher in the know - where are you going? What direction are you headed? Keep driving until a marked police car finds you.
• Don't try to hide your bank bag in your car if you leave and go somewhere else. Make banking your last stop of your errands.

If you know anything about this crime please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-760-5800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP (7867) and refer to case#18A209638.