Authorities warn holiday shoppers about ‘jugging’ crime trend at ATMs

Authorities across the country are warning shoppers to be careful ahead of their holiday errands as thieves turn to a popular crime trend to make a quick buck.

Nicknamed “jugging,” the trend involves criminals following victims through ATMs, banks or stores in an attempt to steal their cash or new purchases. accordingly FBI. Law enforcement typically sees an increase in incidents during the holiday season, with shoppers often walking around with large amounts of cash or high-cost gifts.

“Jugging, in my opinion, is a slang term for crimes of opportunity,” retired NYPD officer Bill Stanton told Fox News Digital. “Think of predators like crocodiles or aquatic creatures hanging out next to the body of water, right? And in this case, it’s an ATM or an ATM-type machine.”

Many victims of this trend have made national headlines; The most recent incident affected a Texas man earlier this month.

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On November 10, a 70-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint while visiting an ATM in a Walmart parking lot in Houston. accordingly FOX26.

Police said the suspect forced the victim to withdraw money from the machine, then shot the man after handing over the money. The man, whose name was not released, was transported to a local hospital and was listed in critical condition.

A similar incident occurred on April 29, when police say 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, according to the Houston Police Department. Police said the suspect then fled the area on foot, then got into a white SUV and drove away.

According to police, the day before, a man had been followed from a Chase Bank in Houston; Here, according to the police, it was security camera footage of the man entering the convenience store at a gas station and two suspects pulling up next to his vehicle. The video then shows two suspects, believed to be the same people involved in the robbery the next day, break both windshields of the victim’s vehicle and then remove an envelope of money from the center console.

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Johnny Juwan Clark pleaded guilty earlier this year to the “jugging” robbery of an ATM technician in Houston, Texas, on July 3, 2024. Surveillance video showed Clark forcing the technician to the ground while the two co-defendants allegedly stole approximately $250,000 in cash from the machine, according to the Department of Justice. (Ministry of Justice)

Earlier this year, a Houston man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to the “jugging” robbery of an ATM technician. accordingly Ministry of Justice.

Johnny Juwan Clark, 33, was on probation for a separate robbery incident in Midlothian, Texas, when he and three others pinned an ATM technician to the ground and forcibly removed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the machine, according to prosecutors.

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 lie on the ground in front of a Chase Bank ATM, according to the Department of Justice.

Prosecutors said Clark put his fist to the back of the technician’s head as two alleged accomplices stole about $248,000 in cash from the machine. The group then allegedly fled the scene and met up at a nearby apartment complex, where the stolen money was loaded into the back of a Range Rover and driven back to Houston.

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Johnny Juwan Clark pleaded guilty earlier this year to stealing approximately $250,000 from an ATM in Houston, Texas, on July 3, 2024, according to the Department of Justice. (Ministry of Justice)

After the money was transferred, Clark and the co-defendant used some of the money to buy 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.

“It’s more a matter of desire,” Stanton said. “And if the economy isn’t going in their favor, that’s more of a motivating factor—that and the holidays.”

According to Stanton, criminals often look for victims in a public place who don’t appear to be paying attention to their surroundings.

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“If you’re giving up your money and giving the impression that you’re the prey, that you’re the lunch or dinner, it’s just a matter of time,” Stanton told Fox News Digital. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Just because this has never happened before doesn’t mean you’re untouchable; it means you’re lucky.”

Stanton urges shoppers to take precautions to protect themselves, especially during the holiday season.

He, along with the FBI, recommends that shoppers look around for anyone who might look suspicious before approaching an ATM or getting out of their vehicle in the parking lot.

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Additionally, the FBI encourages individuals changing their banking habits and staying away from a traceable routine, as well as hiding their cash when leaving the ATM or store.

“Don’t make it easy for them,” Stanton said. “Take the money, put it deep in your pocket and go straight to the car. Don’t wave it around and count it while you’re on the phone.”

Stanton also implores shoppers who find themselves in a dangerous situation to hand over money if they are approached by a criminal.

“If you’re in the middle of this, give up,” he said. “Whether the money comes from an ATM or not can be changed; this is not your life. If you can afford it, throw the money away and run the other way.”

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As Americans head to stores to get a jump start on their holiday shopping, Stanton urges buyers to keep personal safety at the forefront of their minds when shopping for their gifts for the season.

“While you’re doing your holiday shopping, so are the bad guys,” Stanton said. “As you look for that opportunity or buy that expensive item, they’re watching you and saying, ‘Oh, I like this person’s taste. This is their gift, and this is going to be my property.’ You know, put that in your mind, it makes you a little more conscious.”