Three men are in custody after committing a vehicle burglary Tuesday and may be connected to additional bank-jugging cases, according to the Irvine Police Department.
A nationwide trend known as “bank-jugging,” involves suspects surveilling banks and watching for customers who withdraw cash. They then follow the victims to their next stop and burglarize the vehicle to steal the money.
On July 2, officers investigated two vehicle burglaries in Irvine, where victims had just withdrawn money.
The IPD’s Real Time Crime Center assisted detectives and identified the suspect vehicle as a black Ford Expedition displaying a license plate recently stolen in Irvine.
Tuesday, detectives surveilled the Expedition that was displaying a fake license plate. They watched the suspects visit banks across Orange County, believing they were looking for victims. In Seal Beach, the suspects burglarized a car, stealing a banker’s bag, after the owner had conducted a banking transaction.
Detectives stopped the Ford Expedition shortly after and arrested all three suspects. When detectives searched the suspect’s vehicle, they found the stolen banker’s bag, a fake license plate, burglary tools, a ski mask, and cash. Detectives are investigating if the men were involved in the Irvine cases on July 2.
Maurice James, 24, Samuel Marcus Polite, 20, and Ja Vion Marcell La Shang Mathews, 22, all of Texas, were arrested and booked at Orange County Jail. All three face charges including conspiracy, vehicle burglary, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and possession of stolen property.
We urge banking customers to be discreet when making cash withdrawals and to be aware of their surroundings. If you withdraw cash, proceed directly to a safe drop-off destination.
If you have any information on this case, please contact Detective Mahmood at mmahmood@cityofirvine.org.
Here’s a summary of the potential penalties the suspects could face in Irvine, California:
- Vehicle Burglary (Penal Code 459 PC)
- Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in county jail
- Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail
- Conspiracy (Penal Code 182 PC)
- Same penalty as the crime they conspired to commit (in this case, likely felony burglary)
- Felony Vandalism (Penal Code 594 PC)
- Up to 3 years in state prison
- Fines up to $10,000 or more if damage is extensive
- Possession of Burglary Tools (Penal Code 466 PC)
- Misdemeanor: Up to 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine
- Possession of Stolen Property (Penal Code 496 PC)
- Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail
- Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail
If they’re convicted of multiple felonies, sentences could be added together. Prior convictions or aggravating factors (like using disguises or targeting people after bank visits) could lead to harsher penalties.