JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is calling on residents to be vigilant the next time they visit a bank or an ATM.
Law enforcement nationwide is looking into several jugging cases. Jugging is when criminals watch victims make a large withdrawal, follow them and wait for the right time to steal.
In Jacksonville, JSO told First Coast News there aren't reports of criminals robbing other people from jugging, but there were multiple occasions when someone stole hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Experts say a thief would take advantage of the opportunity to steal as soon as it presents itself. For example, if a person happened to stop at a convenience store. After withdrawing money, JSO suggests putting it away immediately in a bank deposit bag.
JSO Lt. Nassim Mana looks into vehicular crimes such as jugging.
"The last one was a couple of weeks ago, $8,700," Mana told First Coast News. "There was one in February. The most we've had was $200,000. There was another case prior to that, $90,000. All that cash was left inside vehicles."
Authorities said if one feels as if they're being followed, Mana suggested calling 911. The agency recommends taking notes of the make and model of the car and grabbing any description of the driver.
JSO said there isn't a particular location where jugging happens, but the crime has occurred at banking institutions in Duval County.