Residents are being warned to stay alert after a “bank jugging” suspect was seen stealing thousands of dollars from a car in L.A.’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood.
The theft occurred on July 7 as the victim, identified only as Robert, had withdrawn a large sum of cash from a Bank of America on Pico and La Cienega Boulevards.
Robert placed the envelope full of cash inside his vehicle and made a quick stop at a local grocery store. Little did he know, he was being watched very carefully by lurking thieves.
Surveillance video captured a male suspect smashing Robert’s car window and quickly diving headfirst into the backseat. The man swipes the envelope of cash before fleeing the area.
-
Surveillance video captured a “bank jugging” thief smashing a car window and diving headfirst into the backseat to steal an envelope containing thousands of dollars in cash that the victim withdrew from a bank in the Pico-Union area on July 7, 2025. -
Surveillance video captured a “bank jugging” thief smashing a car window and diving headfirst into the backseat to steal an envelope containing thousands of dollars in cash that the victim withdrew from a bank in the Pico-Union area on July 7, 2025. -
The victim’s car window was shattered by the destructive thieves. (KTLA)
“I had it in an envelope, a few thousand dollars,” Robert told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “It’s a lot of money. I’m not rich. I work hard.”
Robert believes the suspects had been following him for some time.
“These guys definitely were inside the Bank of America,” he said. “They’re looking for somebody and it happened to be me.”
Authorities are warning the public of “bank jugging” thieves whose strategy typically involves staking out banks to watch for customers who withdraw a large amount of money. In order to steal their personal property, they may follow victims to their car or even to their home.
Police confirmed at least two notable bank jugging incidents occurred in Irvine last week, where investigators arrested four out-of-state suspects in connection with the cases.
Authorities said the scheme is becoming a troubling nationwide trend. In Robert’s case, he believes he was targeted because he lives in an upscale neighborhood.
“This is the L.A. that we live in,” he said with frustration. “In this area, we don’t want to be terrorized by these kinds of people, this kind of criminal.”
Robert reported the theft to the Los Angeles Police Department. No suspect descriptions were provided as the theft remains under investigation.
Anyone with information can call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.