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A growing crime trend known as “jugging” has Texas lawmakers taking action. On June 20, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1902, creating a new law specifically targeting jugging.

Jugging is when a criminal follows a victim from banks or stores to rob them of newly acquired valuables or cash. The law officially goes into effect September 1, making jugging a standalone criminal offense with penalties as severe as life in prison.

What Is Jugging?

Jugging involves criminals monitoring financial institutions or retail locations, waiting for someone to withdraw cash or purchase valuables. Once the person leaves, suspects follow the victim to another location — often a convenience store or home — and then swiftly strike, usually smashing windows or using force to steal the goods.

Surveillance footage from Houston’s Telephone Road recently showed a chilling jugging incident. As a man pulled into a convenience store after visiting the bank, two cars boxed him in. Thieves leapt out, shattered his windows, grabbed the cash, and fled in seconds.

“It’s not just bold, it’s also brazen,” said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers Houston. “You don’t have any fear factor in our criminal justice system.”

Penalties Under the New Law

Under House Bill 1902, jugging is now a state jail felony, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and $10,000 in fines.

If the crime involves a weapon or results in injury, it can be escalated to a first-degree felony — carrying a sentence of up to life in prison.

Texas Rep. Christian Manuel, who supported the bill, said jugging is a fast-growing issue in major cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. “This law sends a message that if you’re targeting people in this way, you’re going to face serious consequences,” he told KFDM.

How to Avoid Being Jugged

Criminal experts recommend the following steps to avoid becoming a victim of jugging:

• Hide valuables before leaving the bank – Don’t display or count money in public. Store it discreetly. 
• Never leave valuables in the car – Even locked compartments can be broken into. 
• Vary your routine – Don’t visit the same bank at the same time each week. 
• Go straight home after banking – Avoid stops that expose you to risk. 
• Stay alert – Be aware of vehicles that may be following you. If suspicious, head to a police station or call 911. 

For more tips, see this Click2Houston safety guide.

A Safer Future

“This new law gives law enforcement a sharper tool and gives victims a stronger sense of justice,” Kahan said in an interview with KHOU 11. “You’re going to be charged with the offense of jugging — and that is going to pack a more powerful impact on the courts.”