The victim says he’s sharing his story in hopes it helps others avoid this from happening to them.

HOUSTON — A Houston man is speaking out after he says thieves followed him from a local bank and stole thousands of dollars from his truck — a crime caught on surveillance video.

Mauricio Torres says he went to the Wells Fargo near Mercury Drive and I-10 around 9 a.m. Saturday to cash a check. Minutes later, he said he was unknowingly being followed.

“Fui para el Wells Fargo que está en la Mercury y el 10 como a las 9 y 11 de la mañana,” Torres said.
(Translation: “I went to the Wells Fargo Bank off Mercury and I-10 around 9 or 10 in the morning.”)

He says only the bank teller knew he was withdrawing money.

“No sé cómo pudieron saber que yo llegué a retirar dinero y no a depositar,” he said.
(Translation: “I don’t know how they knew I was withdrawing money and not depositing.”)

Torres says he placed the envelope of cash in his pocket and walked out of the bank with nothing visible. He drove nearly 13 miles, unaware he was being watched.

Surveillance video from the business where the theft occurred shows a black car backing into bushes near the parking lot. Torres had stopped to work on his truck, assuming the vehicle belonged to another customer. About 15 to 20 minutes later, he heard a loud noise.

That’s when the thieves smashed the window of his truck.

“Cuando yo salí del camión… lo alcancé a ver y le grité. Ya para cuando le grité, quizás ya había agarrado el dinero,” Torres said.
(Translation: “When I got out of the truck, I saw him and yelled. But by the time I did, he may have already taken the money.”)

He says he threw a tool at the suspect’s vehicle, but it was too late. The thieves sped off with $8,000 in cash — money Torres says represented weeks of hard work.

“Muchas horas, varias semanas de trabajo,” he said.
(Translation: “Many hours, several weeks of work.”)

The loss was deeply frustrating, he added.

“Da coraje, porque a uno le cuesta ganar el dinero. Y se lo gana honradamente. Para que venga otro y se lo agarre de esa manera,” Torres said.
(Translation: “It makes you angry because it’s hard to earn money. And you earn it honestly. Then someone just comes and takes it like that.”)

Torres filed a police report and hopes detectives can track down the suspects to prevent anyone else from becoming a victim.

If you have any information, you’re asked to contact the Houston Police Department..


Texas law enforcement agencies team up to tackle these type of thefts across the Houston area

Local and state law enforcement agencies in the Houston area have formed a task force to track down robbers who follow bank customers and then steal their hard-earned money. 

They’re already seeing success.

The task force is putting undercover officers, deputies and troopers at banks to conduct surveillance to catch the bad guys in the act. They’re also using real-time crime centers, drones and other technology to track down the criminals.


Protect yourself after leaving the bank

Thieves are working in groups watching and waiting to steal money from people doing business at banks and ATMs

Authorities said the best way to beat criminals is to have a plan. They say to avoid banking after hours, limit phone use while at ATMs and make use of cash-back options in stores, if possible.  And try to have someone with you if you can.

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