Beware of the Plastic Bottle on Your Car Tyre: The Latest Carjacking Tactic

If you want to avoid difficulties, consider this a tip. A plastic bottle on a tyre is a warning sign. The value of stolen vehicles in the United States annually exceeds $4 billion. Don't dismiss the idea just yet. Just around one-fifteenth of the over 720 thousand cars stolen year are ever returned. You could be wondering "who" in this context. By leveraging the collective knowledge of a community of like-minded individuals through online chat, you can fortify your defense against potential car theft. Old is just as appealing to thieves as new. Insane, because criminals might use them as a means of escape after committing other crimes or to strip them for components.

Latest Carjacking Tactics

Nowadays, crooks may commit a crime with little more than a plastic bottle

The ruse works as follows. A automobile is chosen because it is attractive to the thief in the parking lot. Then, they put an empty plastic bottle on the front or back passenger tyres. There's a good possibility you won't see the bottle when you get in the vehicle since it's on the other side of the dashboard from the driver. You turn the key, and as you pull out of the parking area, an odd crinkling noise fills the car.

That's the bottle being squished by your wheel, of course

But, keep in mind. You are completely oblivious to its existence. You get out of the automobile on impulse to investigate the source of the noise. One would think that a concerned automobile owner wouldn't lock the doors and switch off the engine only to check on her flat tyres. Criminals are only waiting for a window of opportunity like this. There are now two options open to them.

Just get away with the carjacking or the looting of its contents

This is bad news for the automobile owner. On February 2, 2018, CB first heard about carjackers using this tactic in Limpopo, South Africa. Security Northwest, a private security firm in South Africa, issued a warning on their Facebook page regarding auto thefts being performed with the use of a plastic bottle. Together, the duration from when their post went up and when it reached a quarter of a million shares was little over a week. In addition, the US Department of State's recommendations, which are partly responsible for the safety of American citizens overseas.

Similarly, a spate of auto thefts occurred in Mexico using same method

This occurred when a guy posted a video on YouTube in which he alerted his audience about this new tactic. He provided evidence of how auto thieves were doing this kind of offence. And he urged his viewers to share the video in order to save as many lives as possible. Whatever his motivations, thieves repurposed his movie as a how-to guide, resulting in over 6 million views. Even if this method hasn't made it to your city just yet, you can't be sure that someone won't use a plastic bottle to puncture your tyre tomorrow.

That's why it's smart to anticipate potential danger and arm oneself accordingly

Consider giving your automobile a quick once-over before each trip. In a matter of seconds, you may be certain that you are not the target of auto thieves. But that's not all; there are a plethora of additional measures you can take to keep your automobile and yourself safe.

Let's check out the best of the best

First and foremost, always remove the steering wheel from the vehicle before exiting. Well, feel free to steal it. As a matter of fact, a quick-release steering wheel may be installed so that the wheel can be removed and carried along with the vehicle at all times. This approach may strike you as unusual or even humiliating. Therefore, picture yourself browsing a shop while holding a driving wheel. Friend, you're overlooking one of the most powerful options available to you.

Secondly, invest in a vehicle with a manual gearbox

Many individuals lack the skills necessary to operate a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. If you're one of them, show it by clicking the thumbs up button. Many accounts have surfaced from would-be victims detailing how would-be thieves flee in shame after being caught trying to steal a manual transmission vehicle. A couple in Saint Petersburg, Florida, got out of their 2007 Nissan when they were approached by two armed men who demanded they come out of the vehicle.

The robbers got inside and discovered that it was a stick shift

So, whatever the carjackers were, they get the title for worst criminal ever committed, since all they had to do was run away from the scene. Thirdly, always ensure that the windscreen is clean. It's true that a car's windscreen may reveal whether or not it's worth breaking into. Never leave your automobile without first disconnecting any wires.

Remember that before you put it away

Sixth, always park with the driver's side towards your home. You should probably quit reversing into your driveway if that's how you usually enter it. You can get ready and go for work or school in the mornings considerably more quickly and with less hassle. But, you should know that this also makes it less difficult for auto thieves to steal your vehicle. Therefore, simply turn your automobile around so that the front door is facing you. Indeed, you don't get out of the house much faster in the morning by reversing.

Furthermore, make sure the wheels are locked

Seven, engrave your license plate number onto each glass panel of your automobile. If auto thieves are contemplating taking your vehicle to resell it, this will discourage them. They won't bother breaking into your car if your VIN is inscribed onto every window. Put on a spare tyres lock, please. Well, you've definitely seen the cops slam a boot on a car for unlawful parking, but you may not realize that you can get your hands on a tyres lock and use it to protect your vehicle from theft.

Provided, of course, that your trunk is large enough to hold it

Certainly, this isn't something you want to do if you simply need to get a loaf of bread, but it's ideal for longer trips. Put in a baby monitor, that's number nine. Holy cow, it seems like everyone is stealing automobiles these days. My Fiat is being eyed by that two-year-old over there. His only intention is to slobber on it.

The gadget may be repurposed and put to good use as a clever and efficient theft deterrent

Several of these displays also offer audio and a night vision mode. More so, a wireless variant is available for purchase. With this done, you may walk away from the computer. In the automobile and get real-time updates on its status. Criminals are deterred from breaking into a vehicle when a camera is visible. The other 10%? Well, at least you'll have video evidence that may be used to negotiate the return of your infant.

Conclusion

The use of a plastic bottle on a tyre as a warning sign for car theft is becoming increasingly common. Thieves use this tactic to distract vehicle owners from the fact that their car has been compromised. Several measures can be taken to protect cars from theft, including installing a quick-release steering wheel, investing in a manual transmission vehicle, ensuring the windscreen is clean, disconnecting any wires before leaving the car, parking with the driver's side towards home, locking the wheels, engraving the license plate number on the glass panels, and using a tyres lock. These measures may not guarantee the protection of your vehicle from theft, but they can significantly reduce the likelihood of car theft.