AUSTIN, Texas – A 16-year-old is saving money to buy a truck for the upcoming school year after criminals stole the money he was planning to spend on the purchase. He believes he was the victim of fraud earlier this month.

“You never think something like this could happen to you,” said Austin resident Timothy Jones.

Jones’ son, 16-year-old Bradley Jones, worked and saved enough money to buy a truck. Not long after, someone crashed into the truck and destroyed it. About a week and a half ago, the family went to a bank in North Austin to collect the money they had received from their insurance. They withdrew $8,000.

“I got the money from the cashier and put it in my front pocket,” Timothy Jones said.

They left the bank together, got into their car and decided to stop further down the street for a coffee.

“I put the money in the glove compartment, locked the car and went inside to get a cup of coffee,” Timothy Jones said.

About five minutes later, Jones said, he returned to his car and was met with an incredible sight.

“They smashed my window, opened the glove compartment and center console and took the money. They weren’t interested in the $12,000 worth of Milwaukee tools in my back seat. They knew what they were looking for,” said Timothy Jones.

Jones said he was convinced the criminals followed them from the bank.

“Do you wish you had never stopped to get coffee?” FOX 7 Austin Crime Watch reporter Meredith Aldis asked Timothy Jones.

“No, because I think if we hadn’t stopped, they probably would have followed us and gotten impatient at some point. I’m just glad we’re alive,” Timothy Jones replied.

“We all work for our money, and then when someone takes it, you know what I mean. It just feels so wrong,” said Bradley Jones.

Bradley said that means he won’t have a truck to drive to school this year.

“I’m confused: angry, sad, upset, but it just happened. I mean, I can’t express any real emotions, it’s just crazy,” said Bradley Jones.

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Bradley said he is determined to buy another truck.

“I guess it will give me a little motivation to work and try to get my money back,” Bradley Jones said.

An Austin police detective told Jones that the Criminal Investigation Division receives about 50,000 cases a year and tries to work on the ones that provide clues. The others have to be put on hold. Since there is no video evidence from the bank or the coffee shop for this case, it was put on hold.

“The branch manager told me they don’t have cameras outside because they don’t own the building. I’ve tried repeatedly to contact Wells Fargo’s security officer to find out what they do to protect customers from incidents like this, but I’ve gotten nowhere,” Timothy Jones said. “I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

Austin Police advise people to be aware of their surroundings, not to leave money in their cars, to change their route after leaving the bank and to call 911 if they believe they are being followed.