PHELPS ASKS PUBLIC TO HELP PREVENT “JUGGING”
The Brenham Police Department is warning business owners and community members to avoid becoming a victim of what’s called “jugging”.
This usually occurs when someone is transporting a substantial amount of money to and from a bank.
City of Brenham Police Chief Rex Phelps says “jugging” is becoming a local problem…
Chief Phelps says thru are several things someone can do to avoid becoming a victim of “jugging”…
Phelps urged everyone to be on the lookout for possible “jugging”.
He asks the public to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. He says anyone who feels they’re being followed or sees someone parked in a vehicle and not getting out or watching them, not to hesitate in calling 9-1-1.
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As a point of clarification, these crimes are indeed considered burglaries of a vehicle. Legislation was passed which changed these crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. That being said, the Brenham Police Department takes these and all crimes very seriously. The term “jugging” has been used for a number of years for this particularly crime; it is not one of opportunity but instead one of planning and surveillance on the part of the criminals. They will sit in a bank parking lot watching for people leaving the bank with some sort of money bag. They then follow them, and wait until they leave the car – and the money bag – unattended. That is the time that they commit the burglary. In no way do we wish to downplay the seriousness of these crimes, or the seriousness with which the Department views them. That is the reason we issued the statement asking our citizens to stay vigilant when they are transporting substantial amounts of cash. Please remember, when you enter the bank parking lot to be aware of occupied vehicles backed into parking spaces with a clear view of the front doors of the bank, ATM or commercial drive through line; or vehicles arriving at a bank with no one entering the bank. Also be mindful of vehicles changing parking spaces; vehicles with dark tinted windows with little or no visibility of the occupants; and vehicles with multiple occupants. If you see something suspicious, never hesitate to call 911 or drive to the police station.
There is no description of what is actually occurring in these situations. Are these robberies when the victims is leaving their place of employment after closing, making an after hours deposit at the bank, leaving the bank and going to work or home? Knowing the common scenario would be helpful to all readers who would like to take precautions to try and avoid becoming a victim of these crimes.
If this has happened enough to be a “local problem”, we could at least have a description of the people committing the crimes. Are there multiple criminals in the situations or just one person? Are the criminals white, black, hispanic, Asian?
Calling these crimes “jugging” instead of robberies is only downplaying the seriousness of them. They may not be serious to the criminals comitting them, but these robberies can turn deadly in an instant. Titling crimes with silly slang names is a danger to newsreaders. Just like the seemingly racially motivated assaults, otherwise know as “the knockout game”, were downplayed by the national media to prevent casting a negative image of the criminals who committed them. If these are armed robberies, then please call them that.
The description is in the audio from the Police Chief. From my understanding, the victims leave their vehicle for a short period of time, with the money inside. Upon their return, the money is gone. It is probably classified as burglary of a vehicle.