A plastic bottle beside your tire is much more likely to be ordinary litter than evidence that you have been selected by criminals.
Still, the viral story contains one useful reminder: parking lots are places where drivers can become distracted and leave their belongings—or even their running vehicles—unprotected.
Why the Story Sounds So Convincing
The alleged method is simple.
A person places an empty bottle between a tire and the wheel well, often on the passenger side where the driver is less likely to notice it.
When the vehicle begins moving, the bottle is crushed or dragged by the tire. This creates a sudden crackling, rattling, or popping sound.
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