Authorities are raising alarms about disturbing trends as surveillance videos reveal a rise in violent street crimes in South Carolina.
This type of crime, referred to as a “jug,” involves thieves watching individuals at banks and ATMs who withdraw significant amounts of cash. Once these victims have completed their transactions, the “Jugurs” typically follow them to a secondary location and often force them into their vehicle.
As Fox News senior correspondent Steve Harrigan explained in a segment on “American Report” last Friday, “Rhymes with robbery, spreading from Texas to South Carolina.” He noted that some law enforcement officials were initially unaware of the term until these crimes began occurring in their areas. They warned that these incidents can escalate quickly.
Surveillance footage from April 26 shows a man struggling in the passenger seat of a red truck before jumping out and diving into a silver SUV.
The SUV was later captured from different surveillance angles as it quickly exited the parking lot.
Cpl. Cecilio Reyes from the Police Department in Mauldin, South Carolina, described how these crimes typically unfold. “They’re scoping. They see you either enter the bank or leave, or they watch ATM withdrawals and notice you’re withdrawing a significant amount,” Reyes said.
Once the victim finishes their transaction, the criminals usually follow them to a secondary location.
Harrigan highlighted the ongoing arrests in Texas before the crime method spread to North and South Carolina.
In one case in South Carolina, a landscaping business owner unknowingly became a target while withdrawing his weekly salary from the bank. After stopping at a gas station for a soda, he was approached by two “Jugars,” who typically collaborate in pairs, and they stole his entire salary of $6,000.
Additionally, Harrigan reported that the Texas Legislature is considering implementing stricter penalties for certain felonies compared to simple robbery.
