A Bottle by the Wheel as a Theft Trick?
A warning about a plastic bottle as a distraction method circulates on social media, but Snopes already labeled the story as unconfirmed in 2018.
A warning about a plastic bottle as a distraction method circulates on social media, but Snopes already labeled the story as unconfirmed in 2018.
A plastic bottle wedged between the tire and the fender might seem harmless at first glance, but in recent years, a warning spreading across social media has grown louder. According to the viral story, it's a clever trick thieves use to lure the driver out of the car and rob them in a moment of distraction.
According to the description circulating online, the perpetrator places a crushed plastic bottle next to one of the wheels, usually on the passenger side where the driver is less likely to spot it before setting off. When the car starts moving, the wheel runs over the bottle, producing a loud, unpleasant noise reminiscent of a flat tire or a more serious mechanical issue.
The driver then instinctively stops the vehicle and gets out to check what happened. If they leave the key in the ignition, the engine running, or the doors unlocked, a brief window of opportunity opens. Someone waiting nearby can seize that moment of inattention and grab a purse, phone, wallet, or, in the worst-case scenario, simply get behind the wheel and drive off with the car.
No matter how convincing the story is, there is no evidence to confirm that a plastic bottle by the wheel is actually a common, organized method of theft. Snopes, a fact-checking website, already examined this claim in 2018 and found it to be an unconfirmed story spreading virally.
Snopes also pointed out a practical flaw in the described trick: the driver will only stop after moving the car away from where the bottle was placed, meaning the perpetrator who set it is no longer in the immediate vicinity and cannot react quickly.
Although a bottle by the wheel alone is not proof of an attempted theft, security experts advise drivers not to ignore unusual objects or situations around their cars. In reality, thieves use various distraction methods, especially in shopping mall parking lots, gas stations, and supermarkets, where people are often careless and in a hurry.
If you notice a bottle or any other suspicious object near your vehicle, the advice is to first turn off the engine, take the key, and lock the car before getting out. If you hear an unusual noise while driving, it's best to stop in a safe, well-lit place rather than immediately getting out of the vehicle by the roadside, as that could put your safety at risk.
Special attention should be paid to valuables inside the vehicle. Purses, phones, wallets, and other items left in visible places are often reason enough for theft, without any additional tricks. A plastic bottle by the wheel, therefore, doesn't necessarily mean someone tried to steal the car, but it can serve as a useful reminder of a basic safety rule, the vehicle should never be left running and unlocked, even for a few seconds.
