There are a lot of things that spook me in life, and the thought of someone swiping my car ranks pretty high up there. It’s not just the losing my ride part; it’s the feeling of being violated, you know? And just when you think you’ve seen all the clever tricks in the book, from the old penny jammed in the car door handle to the more sophisticated tech hacks, along comes another method that’s so simple, it’s almost genius. Now, we’re talking about a plastic bottle on a tire. Yes, you read that right. A plain, garden-variety plastic water bottle could be a “mark” for car thieves. Mind-boggling, isn’t it?
So, here’s the deal. Some clever (read: sneaky) thieves have figured out that they can use a water bottle to mark a vehicle they’re targeting. But it’s not just about marking; it’s how they use it that’s really cunning. They place the bottle on one of the car’s wheels – specifically, the front passenger side wheel. Why there? Because it’s a spot that’s not easily seen by the driver when getting into the car. The idea is that as the driver starts to pull away, the bottle gets squished, making an unnerving crackling sound. It’s the kind of sound that makes you think, “Did I just roll over something important?”