BEAUMONT, Texas —
Two people were arrested in Beaumont on Wednesday after breaking into a car at Steak 'n Shake.
The two were arrested following a surveillance operation for potential ‘jugging’ in response to recent incidents Beaumont on Wednesday. 'Jugging' is a form of crime in which suspects sit outside of banks or ATMs and wait for potential victims they can follow and ultimately rob.
The suspects are Dexter Calvert Jackson, 21, of Humble and Betty Faye Patterson, 22, of Houston according to Guidry.
RELATED: Beaumont Police warn of thieves trying to rob people leaving ATM, "jugging" around the holidays
Beaumont Police Special Assignments Unit and Auto Theft Task Force observed a brown Hyundai Sonata circling several banks around the city according to Beaumont Police spokesperson Cody Guedry.
The car followed a vehicle leaving Wells Fargo bank at 4405 Dowlen Road to Steak 'n Shake at Odom Road and Crow Road in Beaumont according to Guedry.
One suspect got out of the car, concealed the rear license plate on the Sonata and broke into the victim’s car, stealing a purse with the money that just been withdrawn according to a news release from Beaumont Police.
Officers followed the suspects and made a traffic stop in the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop parking lot according to Guedry.
The suspects were taken into custody around 3 p.m. on Jan. 30.
Guedry says suspects are getting more sophisticated and are following people and watching as people leave banks. He says the two will face auto burglary charges.
This is a developing story. 12News will add more information if and when it is received.
From a Beaumont Police news release:
On Wednesday, January 30, 2018, The Beaumont Police Department Special Assignment Unit along with the Auto Theft Task Force conducted a surveillance operation of the banks in response to recent jugging incidents. While do so, officers observed a suspicious brown Hyundia Sonata circling several banks throughout the city. Officers observed the suspect vehicle following a victim from the Wells Fargo bank located at 4405 Dowlen Road. The victim then traveled to the Steak ‘n Shake, located at Odom and Crow and parked exiting the vehicle. At this location, the suspect vehicle stops and one of the suspects are observed as they conceal the rear license plate just before approaching the victims vehicle. The suspects then approach the victim’s vehicle and enter taking a purse containing cash that had been withdrawn from Wells Fargo bank earlier. Multiple officers then converged on the area and took both suspects into custody.
The suspects were identified as:
Dexter Calvert Jackson, 21 years old from Humble
Betty Faye Patterson, 22 years old from Houston
The suspects were taken to the Beaumont Police Department where they were questioned and later transported to the Jefferson County Jail and booked in for Auto Burglary. The Beaumont Police Department would like for the citizens to know that we are proactively working in all capacities to capture thieving individuals like this. We want the public to be aware of these type of criminals coming from out of town. As always be aware of your surroundings and take proactive measures to avoid being a victim in crimes of this nature.
