Four armed suspects shot and robbed a man of 50,000 pesos (roughly $2,800 USD) on Tuesday afternoon in Tijuana after he withdrew the cash from a bank, according to local reports.
The attack took place around 4:00 p.m. on Calle Magnolias in Colonia El Florido Tercera Sección, a residential area in eastern Tijuana. The victim had just left a BBVA Bancomer branch inside Plaza Sendero, a well-known shopping center in the neighborhood.
Suspects Followed Victim From the Bank
According to the report, four individuals in a sedan intercepted the man shortly after he exited the bank. They shot him and took the cash before fleeing the scene. Red Cross paramedics treated the victim at the location and then transported him to a hospital. His condition has not been publicly disclosed.
Tijuana Municipal Police launched a search operation for the four suspects, who remain at large. No descriptions of the vehicle or the individuals have been released.
A Pattern Known as ‘Jugging’
The crime fits a pattern known in the United States as “jugging,” where criminals stake out bank branches, ATMs, or currency exchange houses and follow customers who leave with large amounts of cash. The tactic relies on surveillance: the thieves watch for signs that a person has made a significant withdrawal, then tail them to a location away from the bank’s security cameras.
This type of robbery is not new to Tijuana. In December 2021, an American was shot and robbed in the parking lot of a Banregio bank in the Las Brisas neighborhood under nearly identical circumstances. Two suspects intercepted him and took a backpack filled with cash.
How to Reduce Risk
Security experts recommend several precautions for anyone handling large cash withdrawals in Baja California. Use electronic transfers or cashier’s checks when possible instead of carrying physical bills. If a cash withdrawal is unavoidable, vary your route after leaving the bank and avoid counting money in public or inside a parked car.
Be aware of anyone loitering near the bank entrance or parking lot, and check whether a vehicle appears to be following you after you leave. Driving directly to a police station or a crowded public area can deter a tail.
The incident was first reported by Jornada BC.