On September 1, 2025, Texas made a sharp move to curb a predatory tactic that preyed on routine trips to the bank: following someone from an ATM or branch with the intent to steal. House Bill 1902 now treats that conduct- commonly called “jugging” – as its own felony, letting police and prosecutors act before a theft is completed. This change reframes a familiar cautionary tale about vigilance into a formal criminal offense, raising urgent questions about how officers will prove intent, what counts as the required “criminal instruments,” and how the law will affect everyday banking habits. The answers will shape not only prosecutions but also how Texans protect themselves when they withdraw cash.
Jugging Law
Texas enacted House Bill 1902, which creates a standalone felony for “jugging.” The law targets people who follow bank or commercial customers after they leave a financial institution or business with the intent to steal, and it allows police to charge that preparatory conduct earlier than before. The law took effect on September 1, 2025.
What is jugging
House Bill 1902 defines jugging as knowingly traveling the same path or route as another person after that person leaves a financial institution or commercial business, with the intent to commit theft. The statute also requires that the suspect possess two or more “criminal instruments,” items that can be used to facilitate theft, such as tools for breaking into vehicles or disabling locks. By defining this conduct as a discrete offense, the law lets authorities intervene based on the preparatory conduct and possession of instruments, rather than waiting for a completed theft.
Jugging – ATM follow-follow-and-burglary. A man arrived at the bank as customers left the ATM area and lingered at the edge of the lot, watching them. When one customer walked away, he fell in step behind her and kept pace until they reached a quieter stretch of road, where he robbed her.
Jugging – Drive‑by follow and attempted robbery. A suspect parks a short distance away, watches people withdraw cash, then follows a man who walks to his car. The suspect keeps just behind him until the victim reaches a quieter alley between buildings. The suspect approaches with a weapon displayed, demanding money; the victim fights back, and the suspect flees before taking anything.
Jugging – Multiple-target surveillance. Two suspects scout the ATM area and compile notes on customers who withdraw cash. One follows a customer partway, but is interrupted when a security guard approaches. The suspects retreat to their vehicle; officers later stop the car and find masks, bolt cutters, and lists of intended targets.
How the law changes policing and prosecution
Previously, prosecutors could charge only completed offenses such as burglary, theft, or robbery. HB 1902 permits intervention and charging at an earlier stage, aiming to prevent thefts before they occur.
Penalties
Penalties under Texas jugging law The felony level depends on aggravating facts:
- State‑jail felony: The baseline jugging offense is a state‑jail felony, punishable by 180 days to two years in state jail and/or a fine up to $10,000.
- Third‑degree felony: The offense elevates to a third‑degree felony if it involves burglary of a vehicle.
- First‑degree felony: If the conduct escalates into a robbery, the offense becomes a first‑degree felony, punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
What We Should Do
To reduce the risk of jugging, law enforcement and banks recommend several practical steps. Stay alert to people near ATMs, bank entrances, and parking areas. Vary your routine by using different branches or visiting at different times to avoid predictable patterns. Conceal transactions: use drive‑thru services when available, put cash away immediately, and avoid counting money in public. Secure valuables by never leaving cash, bank bags, or envelopes visible in your vehicle. If you think someone is following you, drive to a police station or a well‑lit, populated area and call 911.
