Two Houston Teens Arrested in Bank Jugging Burglary at Mont Belvieu Shopping Center
On Wednesday afternoon, Mont Belvieu Police Patrol units responded to a burglary in progress at a shopping center in the 9500 block of SH 146. Witnesses reported that a white Toyota RAV4 pulled into the parking lot, and a suspect wearing a face mask exited the passenger seat, broke the driver’s side window of the victim’s vehicle, and briefly entered before fleeing in the RAV4, which was driven by another suspect. The vehicle was last seen heading southbound on SH 146 toward IH-10.
Thanks to quick-thinking witnesses who provided a detailed description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, Mont Belvieu Police quickly determined the incident was likely a bank jugging—where suspects follow individuals from financial institutions to steal bank envelopes or cash. The victim had just left a local bank, and the only item stolen was an envelope containing blank check registers and papers.
The suspect vehicle’s description was broadcast to nearby law enforcement agencies, including Baytown Police Department and the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. Within minutes, a Baytown PD patrol sergeant spotted the RAV4 parked at a financial institution in the 6000 block of Garth Road. Both suspects, 18-year-old Eddric Williams and 18-year-old Jerome Williams, both from Houston, were detained and arrested by Mont Belvieu Police. They were charged with Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Unlawful Use of a Criminal Instrument and were booked into the Chambers County Jail.
Mont Belvieu Police praised the teamwork between agencies, and fortunately, the victim did not suffer any significant financial loss. Mont Belvieu PD urges citizens to be vigilant when leaving banks, reminding them to lock their vehicles and be observant of any suspicious activity. Bank jugging suspects often target individuals carrying envelopes or bags from banks and follow them to their next destination to break into their vehicles.