AUSTIN, Tx. (KEYE) — Police are looking for three people connected to a violent "jugging" in East Austin, Texas.
On Saturday, three men followed a person from a bank to a convenience store located off of East William Cannon Drive near Bluff Springs Road. The victim had withdrawn cash from the bank, which was stolen from them after they were kicked and punched repeatedly inside the store.
Saiyadali Maknojia, who owns the gas station and convenience store where the jugging took place, said, “I am afraid still. I have some worry about it, yes I am afraid right now.
During the attack, one of the assailants punched Maknojia on the side of the head as he tried to help the victim.
“The two guys who follow him knocked him down and I [went] to help him and the other guy, he punched me here and I fell,” said Maknojia.
Police are still looking for the three suspects involved. One man stayed in the car while the other two men followed the victim into the store. The driver’s description is unknown, but police believe the vehicle to be a newer model Hyundai Tucson.
“The suspects punched the victim at least three times in the head and kicked him in the head once he was on the ground at least eight times,” said Sgt. Jennifer Taylor, with Austin Police Department.
The crime ‘jugging’ is when suspects follow a victim to a second location after withdrawing money from a financial institution, like a bank, and rob them. APD says they don’t know where the exact term comes from and there’s no specific penal code for jugging. If the suspects from Saturday’s jugging are caught, they’ll be charged with robbery.
Police say the suspects often work in teams.
“Whether they decide to keep following someone or not, I don’t know what dictates that. But if they think you have cash, they’re going to follow you wherever you go,” said Taylor.
Police are looking for a male witness seen on security footage near the car. As the car drove away, the suspects threw some of the cash at him. They don’t believe the witness is directly involved, but they think he caught onto what was happening and the cash was used to distract him. Police maintain they speak with him as a witness and not a suspect.
Austin police have responded to 129 jugging incidents so far this year. A total of $1.3 million dollars has been stolen during jugging attacks in Austin this year as well.
APD says if you believe you’re being followed after leaving the bank to call 911 and not 311. Dispatch has been advised about the jugging problem and they should send an officer your way.
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