Tampa Police are working to identify this “Jugger”!
DATE/TIME: May 30, 2020 @ approximately 4:15 PM
LOCATION: N. 18th St & E. 24th Ave
It’s called “Bank Jugging”. While the origin of the term is unclear, the method by which this crime occurs is described as follows: The suspect sits in a parking lot and watches customers go in and out of a bank. The suspect then follows the customers they believe are in possession of cash or expensive items and look for an opportunity to burglarize their vehicles. “Juggers” most frequently target customers carrying bank bags, bank envelopes, and coin boxes. Most “jugging” burglary of motor vehicles occur at a retail or commercial business the customer stops at after leaving the bank.
On May 30, the victim who is a recent widower, removed his wife’s jewelry from his safety deposit box in preparation for his daughter’s upcoming wedding. He left the Bank of America (9385 N. 56th St), placed the jewelry in his trunk, and went to a nearby Amscot (5002 E. Busch Blvd). He then drove to the area of N. 18th St and E. 24th Ave., where he parked his vehicle for a short time. When he returned to his car, he found the door lock had been punched, the trunk opened, and the jewelry stolen.
The subject in the video was recorded on camera at the Bank of America at the same time as the victim. The suspect appears to have followed the victim to the Amscot immediately after, where he was again recorded. The suspect also matches the description from two similar crimes in 2019. Detectives are very interested in speaking with him.
As detectives continue their investigations, they are also asking for anyone who may know who this person is to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. at 800.873.TIPS.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM “BANK JUGGING”?
• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Conceal money before leaving the bank
• Never openly carry bank bags, envelopes, or coin boxes
• Be aware of anyone following you from the area of a bank
• Never leave, or try to hide, your bank bag or bank envelope in your vehicle at your next destination, even if it’s your residence
• If you suspect you are being targeted, call 911 from your cell phone and keep the dispatcher informed of your location, the direction you are traveling, and drive toward the nearest police station until marked police cars are able to locate you
(20-272989)
