OCOEE, Fla. – Police in Ocoee are urging residents to stay alert amid a recent rise in “bank jugging,” a theft scheme in which criminals watch customers leave banks with cash, then follow them to a second location.
Sgt. David Ogletree of the Ocoee Police Department said investigators have handled roughly six to eight bank-jugging cases in the last three to four weeks, with several reports coming in over the weekend.
In the most serious case, Ogletree said, a victim was robbed of $4,000 in just seconds.
According to police, thieves often look for people carrying bank bags, envelopes or other items that clearly signal they have just withdrawn money. The suspects then trail the customer to a home, store or another stop, where they break into the vehicle and grab the cash.
“If you have a bank bag that says Truist or Bank of America or whatever bank of the day it is, and they’re following those people — whether it’s home, mostly it’s another business where they leave that money in a car — you go inside and in a matter of seconds they break into your car,” Ogletree said.
Ocoee police also released video connected to two recent bank-jugging incidents as part of their warning to the public.
Authorities advise anyone leaving a bank with cash to take the money with them if they need to make another stop. Police are also reminding ATM users to pay close attention to their surroundings before, during and after a transaction.
Investigators stressed that these thefts are not confined to late-night hours. Several reported cases have taken place in broad daylight.
Anyone who believes they are being followed should avoid confronting the person and refrain from stopping to get out of their vehicle.
“Go to a well-lit, populated area or the police department,” Ogletree said. “Don’t stop at the red light and get out of your car and confront them. That can just lead to more problems.”
Residents can also contact the Ocoee Police Department’s non-emergency line.
