While many people have never heard of the crime “jugging,” (a slang term for stealing) it is rapidly gaining popularity in San Antonio, especially with the holiday season around the corner. According to SAPD, jugging involves thieves watching and closely following victims, then waiting for the right moment to steal their money.
Most cases are non-violent and consist of thieves following their victims to the bank and watching them from a distance. When these criminals see people pull money from the bank and drive away, they will follow them to their next location. They then wait for the victim to park and leave their car at their next destination. At this point, they will break into the victim’s car to steal the cash recently pulled from the bank.
SAPD is seeing a rise in this type of crime and wants to inform the public on how they can keep themselves safe from juggers. While the holiday season is the peak time for jugging to happen, it can take place at any time, so it is important to always practice safety precautions.
The best thing you can do to prevent falling victim to jugging is to always be aware of your surroundings. Make sure to keep a sharp eye out when conducting a transaction at the bank, or even when traveling from location to location. Envelopes or money pulled from the bank should always be concealed in something such as a purse, pant pockets, or a jacket. Always be cautious about leaving recently pulled money in the car when running errands, it should always be taken with you when leaving your car parked. Most importantly, if you believe you are being followed by one of these juggers, immediately call 911 and drive to the nearest police station.
Remember to stay aware and alert this holiday season, and most importantly to call 911 if there is any fear of a possible jugger following you. San Antonio Police Officers have always been there to protect the community and they always will be.