Authorities throughout the country are warning shoppers to remain vigilant ahead of their holiday errands as thieves are turning to a popular crime trend to make off with quick cash. The trend, nicknamed ‘jugging,’ involves criminals following victims from ATMs, banks, or stores in an effort to steal their cash or new purchases, according to the FBI. Law enforcement officers typically see a rise in incidents around the holiday season, with shoppers often walking around with large sums of cash or high-cost gifts.
Retired NYPD officer Bill Stanton told Fox News Digital that ‘jugging’ is just a slang term for crimes of opportunity. He compared it to predators hanging out near a watering hole, saying that criminals tend to target individuals who appear distracted or not paying attention to their surroundings. This approach is particularly common during the holidays, as shoppers tend to be more focused on their gifts or money than their personal safety.
Numerous instances of individuals falling victim to the trend have made national headlines. One such incident involved a 70-year-old man who was robbed at gunpoint as he was visiting an ATM in a Walmart parking lot in Houston. The suspect forced the victim to withdraw cash from the machine, then shot the man after he handed over the money. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
A similar incident unfolded on April 29, when police said a Houston man was followed from a Wells Fargo Bank ATM to a car wash, where an unidentified male suspect brandished a firearm in an attempt to rob the victim. The suspect then fled the area on foot, before entering a white SUV and driving off, police said.
One day earlier, a man was followed from a Chase Bank in Houston, where surveillance video captured two suspects pulling up next to his vehicle on each side while the man entered a gas station convenience store. Video then captured the two suspects, believed to be the same individuals involved in the robbery on the following day, breaking both front windows of the victim’s vehicle before removing a cash envelope from the center console.
Earlier this year, a Houston man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to the ‘jugging’ robbery of an ATM technician. According to prosecutors, 33-year-old Johnny Juwan Clark was out on supervised release for a separate robbery incident when he, along with three others, forced an ATM technician to the ground and forcibly removed hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from the machine in Midlothian, Texas. The group was working within a Houston-based criminal organization called the ‘Hiram Clarke Money Team’ when Clark admitted following the technician to multiple stops, before approaching the victim from behind and forcing him to the ground in front of a Chase Bank ATM.
Clark kept his fist to the back of the technician’s head as two alleged accomplices stole approximately $248,000 in cash from the machine, prosecutors said. The group then allegedly fled the scene and met at a nearby apartment complex, where the stolen money was loaded into the back of a Range Rover and driven back to Houston.
Once the cash was transported, Clark and another codefendant used a portion of the money to purchase an S-Class Mercedes-Benz and jewelry, according to prosecutors. Clark’s attorney and the Houston Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Stanton warns that ‘jugging’ is driven by a ‘want’ issue, with criminal activity often influenced by economic conditions. He also notes that the holidays exacerbate the situation, as shoppers are more likely to have large amounts of cash and be distracted by holiday shopping. He advises consumers to remain cautious and take steps such as varying their banking habits, staying away from predictable routines, and concealing their cash when leaving an ATM or store.
Stanton urges individuals to avoid giving the impression that they are targets, emphasizing that the risk is real and that it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to take advantage. He encourages shoppers to prioritize their safety, especially during the holiday season, as criminals are also actively looking for targets to exploit.