Police say license plate readers helped officers find the suspects after a woman was assaulted outside her home.
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX — Two Houston-area men face felony charges after police say they followed a woman home from a bank and assaulted her while trying to steal her purse outside her New Braunfels residence.
New Braunfels police identified the men as Mekhi McKinstry, 22, of Richmond, and Christian Woods, 20, of Houston. Both were arrested Sept. 3 and booked into the Comal County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest or detention. Police described the case as an apparent example of “bank jugging,” in which people leaving banks or ATMs are followed and targeted for cash or other property.
Officers responded around 10:15 a.m. to the 2200 block of Meadow Way after receiving a report of an aggravated robbery. The woman told police she had just returned from a bank and was getting out of her vehicle when a man assaulted her while trying to take her purse. Police said an accomplice was also involved.
The two men fled in a greenish-yellow Chevrolet Trax, according to police. Investigators used the New Braunfels Police Department’s automated license plate reader system to help identify and locate the vehicle. Officers spotted the Trax a short time later as it turned from North Kowald Lane onto the Interstate 35 access road.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, which eventually pulled into a gas station near Loop 337 and Business 35. Both occupants got out and ran, according to investigators. Officers immediately caught one of the men, while the other ran into a nearby wooded area.
Police K-9 teams and drone units searched the area with assistance from the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities eventually located the second man in the woods and took him into custody without further incident. Police reports did not specify which suspect was arrested first.
The woman suffered injuries during the confrontation, but police described them as non-life-threatening. She did not require transportation to a hospital. Authorities have not publicly released her name or additional details about what property, if any, was taken during the encounter.
Police said bank jugging generally involves offenders watching customers who make withdrawals at a bank or ATM and then following them to another location. A victim may be confronted directly, or property may be taken from an unattended vehicle. Investigators have not publicly detailed how long the woman was allegedly followed or whether the two men had been watching the bank before she left.
Comal County court records reviewed by the San Antonio Express-News showed that McKinstry and Woods were each released from jail after posting $53,000 bond. The charges are allegations, and the men have not been convicted in the case.
The investigation remained active, and police said additional charges could be filed. Authorities had not announced further charges or other arrests as of Sunday.
Author note: Last updated September 7, 2026.