On October 13, the Lakewood Police Department issued a public warning about how a crime called ‘jugging’ is on the rise. Not only does this crime pose a major financial risk to victims, it can pose a serious safety risk, too.

Here’s a look at what ‘jugging’ is, a recent example of when ‘jugging’ is believed to have taken place, and what can be done to avoid falling victim to the crime:

As defined by the Lakewood Police Department, ‘jugging’ is a form of robbery in which a suspect follows a victim after they leave a financial institution, such as a bank or ATM, then committing a robbery at the next location.

Sometimes a person is victimized after leaving money behind or robbed in-person with the demand for the cash, often accompanied by a threat of violence. Those who leave financial institutions with a visible cash bag or envelope may be more susceptible to being targeted.

A recent post on Reddit that the Lakewood Police Department responded to provides an example of how this crime takes place.

In that post, the victim claims they were headed to a tattoo appointment at the time of the ‘jugging’ incident, having withdrawn $4,000 in cash from a Lakewood bank. After withdrawing the money and prior to their tattoo appointment, the victim reports stopping at a major retailer in Belmar, popping inside to grab a single item before returning to their vehicle, leaving the cash behind in a locked glovebox.

Upon returning, the victim discovered that a vehicle window was broken along with the glovebox and that the cash was gone.

The victim called the bank, but the bank said there was nothing they could do after the cash left the property. The victim acknowledged they had made a serious mistake, but also addressed confusion in how they could be so quickly targeted during their brief stop to shop.

To the poster’s surprise, the Lakewood Police Department responded in the Reddit thread: “That is awful what happened and that someone would do that at all. We will make the effort to find these people. This could have happened to multiple people that day, could be an ongoing issue in the area or something more organized we are already investigating. Please complete the report, with as much specific information you have, including times, where you were parked, if you noticed anything unusual (someone near the ATM watching) and let’s go from there. Thank you!”

Two days later, Lakewood Police Department made a public post to raise awareness of the crime of ‘jugging,’ with the aforementioned case of theft presumably related to that. Thankfully, the Redditor’s case didn’t involve a violent confrontation, as can sometimes be the case with this type of crime.

The Lakewood Police Department provided some tips on how to avoid falling victim to ‘jugging.’ Those tips are as follows:

• Be aware of vehicles loitering near bank parking lots.
• Don’t leave cash in your vehicle or otherwise unattended after a transaction at a bank or ATM.
• Watch out for any vehicle that seems to be conducting surveillance (stationary or mobile).
• If you notice a vehicle that appears to be following you, drive to a well-lit, populated area, or the nearest police or fire station. Calling 911 to report that you’re being followed is also an acceptable response.
• Protect yourself: After making a transaction, be discreet with your cash and remain vigilant of your surroundings.
• If you see suspicious activity, or believe you are a victim of this crime, call 911 immediately.

According to the warning, vehicles used for ‘jugging’ are typically ‘everyday vehicles’ that can blend in easily. Being aware of suspicious behavior, like a vehicle following you, can be the best way to prevent falling victim to this crime.

It’s also important to exercise caution even if a small amount of cash is being withdrawn. After all, criminals don’t generally know how much cash a victim may have prior to an act of ‘jugging.’