San Diego police are sounding the alarm over a rise in so-called "bank jugging," a crime where thieves watch people withdraw cash, then trail them to steal the money or break into their parked vehicles. Officers say these crimes tend to spike around holidays when people and small businesses are carrying more cash than usual, and with Lunar New Year landing on Tuesday, they want San Diegans to be especially alert near bank branches and ATMs.
In a recent advisory, Officer Anthony Carrasco told CBS 8 that investigators have seen an uptick in these thefts tied to the Lunar New Year period. He said suspects usually go after parked vehicles instead of confronting victims face-to-face. Carrasco also noted that many Asian‑owned businesses run heavily on cash during the holiday, which can leave them especially exposed to this kind of targeting.
How the scams work
Law enforcement agencies describe a fairly methodical setup. Suspects linger near bank entrances or ATMs, quietly watching who walks out with cash in hand. Once they have a target, they follow that person to a less crowded location, where they either grab the money or smash a car window to get at it. As the Orange County Sheriff's Office has documented in past cases, some crews even use multiple vehicles to shadow victims so they are less likely to be noticed.
Seen elsewhere
San Diego is not the only place dealing with this tactic. Similar warnings and arrests have been popping up outside Southern California too, suggesting jugging is part of a wider trend. Coverage of bank jugging stalkers and stepped-up patrols in banking corridors in other counties shows law enforcement agencies trying to get ahead of the problem before it spreads further.
How to protect yourself
Police say a few simple habits can make you a much tougher target. Go straight to your next destination after withdrawing cash and do not linger in the parking lot. Conceal bank envelopes, skip counting large sums in public, and try to park in well‑lit, busy areas, CBS 8 reports. If you think someone is following you, officers say to drive to a police station or another crowded public place and call 911 instead of heading straight home, advice echoed by local departments such as the Burbank Police Department.
Anyone who spots suspicious behavior around banks or ATMs is urged to contact San Diego Police so investigators can track patterns and focus enforcement where it is needed most. Businesses handling larger volumes of holiday cash are also encouraged to talk with their bank or local police about safer ways to move money and about any extra security measures that might make sense during the Lunar New Year rush.
