3 suspected in multiple Orange County ‘bank jugging’ incidents

Police are investigating whether a suspected burglary crew is responsible for multiple “bank jugging” incidents reported in Orange County this month.

Investigators were alerted to the incidents on July 2 when officers investigated two vehicle burglaries in Irvine, where the victims had just withdrawn money, the Irvine Police Department posted on X Thursday morning.

A possible suspect vehicle was identified as a black Ford Expedition with California plates that had been reported stolen. Using plate-reading technology, detectives spotted the Expedition visiting banks across Orange County on Tuesday.

“In Seal Beach, the suspects burglarized a car, stealing a banker’s bag, after the owner had conducted a banking transaction,” police said.

Three suspects, identified as Maurice James, 24, Samuel Marcus Polite, 20, and Ja Vion Marcell La Shang Mathews, 22, all of Texas, were stopped and arrested following a search of the vehicle.

Inside, detectives found the stolen banker’s bag, a fake license plate, burglary tools, a ski mask, and cash, according to the post.

Detectives are now trying to determine if the same suspects are responsible for the July 2 bank jugging cases in Irvine.

Police described bank jugging as a nationwide trend that involves suspects surveilling banks and watching for customers who withdraw cash. They then follow the victims to their next stop and burglarize the vehicle.

James, Polite and Mathews were all booked on suspicion of conspiracy, vehicle burglary, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and possession of stolen property.

Anyone with further information on the case was asked to contact Detective Mahmood at mmahmood@cityofirvine.org.