‘Bank jugging’ burglaries on the rise, according to Burbank police

A statement from Burbank Police Department claims an increased number of “bank jugging” incidents have been reported in recent weeks. 

According to the statement, “bank jugging” refers to a method of robbery in which perpetrators sit in bank parking lots and wait for patrons to emerge with cash. 

“These criminals watch customers as they leave the bank and typically target those carrying bank envelopes, money bags, and/or coin boxes. Thieves will select a customer they believe to be in possession of a large amount of currency and will follow the customer to their next destination, at which point they break into the victim’s vehicle and steal the money from within,” the statement said.

The tactic has been sporadically reported to be on the rise for several years. Last July, the FBI’s Baltimore field office documented 21 cases in a single week in that city. Police in Fairfax County, Virginia recorded ten such incidents in 2023.

Last week, a man was robbed of $3,400 in a bank jugging theft in Harris County, Texas. Authorities then believed that the incident was connected to other local burglaries.

However, it is difficult to establish how present a danger bank jugging is. Burbank police did not respond to a request from the Los Angeles Post for the number of cases reported in their jurisdiction, and does not report statistics on the crime specifically.

Burbank police recommends a number of measures to avoid falling victim to this type of attack:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially occupied parked vehicles in the parking lot
• Conceal money before entering and exiting the bank
• Be aware of anyone that may be watching and or following you
• DO NOT leave your bank envelope, money bag, coin box, or currency in your vehicle
• If you suspect you are being targeted or followed, call 911 immediately