Houston police searching for "jugging" suspects wanted in two robberies

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police are looking for two suspects wanted for at least two "jugging" style robberies at convenience stores in northwest and southeast Houston.

Both incidents happened on Friday, March 13.

The first crime was at the Latino Market at 7523 Long Point Drive about 11:30am. Video shows a black Chrysler 300 drive into a parking lot and a man jump out. The suspect, believes to be in his mid 20s, about 6 feet tall, 165 pounds, is seen wearing a gray hoodie, sweat pants and armed with a pistol.

The suspect runs up to a victim and demands money at gunpoint. He then directs the victim to the victim's vehicle where he steals more items before driving off.

The second crime happened at the Supermercado Gigante at 7610 Office City Drive about 3:40pm. One of the suspects again exited the Chrysler and ran toward two men who had just parked. The suspect began firing his pistol, striking one of the men. The other male, who was not injured, dropped his backpack containing cash.

The suspect stole that cash, got back into the Chrysler and fled the scene.

Anyone who knows the identities of the suspects in the surveillance video is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Last year, the Deer Park and Pasadena Police Departments issued warnings about "juggings." The term is used to describe suspects who sit in parking lots of banks and businesses and target customers they believe have cash in hand or still in their vehicle. Jugging suspects will often follow someone they watched take a large amount of cash from an ATM and rob them when the victim stops at another business. Houston Police say many jugging victims do not know why they were targeted or even realized they were being followed in the first place.

Things to be aware of while banking:

• Occupied vehicles backed into parking spaces with clear view of the front doors of the bank, ATM or commercial drive thru line.
• Be aware of any vehicles arriving at a bank with no occupants entering the bank.
• Vehicles changing parking spaces.
• Vehicles with dark tinted windows with little or no visibility of the occupants.
• Vehicles with multiple occupants.

How to protect yourself:

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Conceal money before leaving the bank. Never openly carry bank bags, envelopes, or coin boxes.
• Be aware of anyone following you from the area of a bank.
• If you suspect you are being targeted, call 911 from your cell phone and keep the dispatcher informed of your location, the direction you are traveling, and drive toward the police station until a marked police car is able to locate you.
• Do not leave or try to hide your bank bag or bank envelope in your vehicle when you exit at your next destination, even if it's your residence.