False Warning: Coin Door Handle Robbery
A warning circulating on social media suggests that a raw proficiency by car thieves involves placing a penny or nickel in the passenger doorway handle to prevent the vehicle from being locked.
patronize links
False Tip
A total of sources appear to cite the web site Sun Gazing as the origin of this trace, although it ’ s possible that site lifted it from another reservoir. The original article claims that cable car thieves have discovered that wedging a penny or nickel in the passenger door manage will prevent the car from being locked. thus, crafty thieves place a coin, then lay in wait to follow the victim to wherever they are going. When the driver exits the vehicle and attempts to lock it with the key fob, the coin stay in the passenger manage will prevent the cable car from being locked. This, it is said, will allow thieves to break into the car. The article states :
They follow you to wherever you are going. When you attempt to use your key for central locking it won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate make, because the passenger car door is jammed. They then will be able to get into your car and steal anything they want, including the car itself, if they have the know-how !
thus be certain to check the passenger car door handle before entering your cable car, to check that no coin has been inserted. Thieves have besides been known to hide in the back to carjack you with this method acting ! So it would be best to check the back seat, or even call 911 in lawsuit the thief has climbed into your trunk…Better safe than regretful !
Some versions of the floor have been circulated on sociable media with the suggestion that users partake the fib with their friends. The article appears to be more click-bait than actual .
Although the warn sounds plausible, car experts we spoke with jeer at the idea that this would work on modern vehicles. The electronic lock system, we are told, would not be affected by the insertion of a coin in any of the doorway handles. furthermore, most mod doorway handles are not designed in a manner which would allow a coin to be inserted in this manner .
sponsor Links
It ’ s possible that this proficiency could work on older cars which use manual of arms lock systems, but the warn above appears to merely discuss advanced vehicles with electronic locking systems .
In a test of a modern vehicle with a treat which allowed a coin to be inserted, we saw no disturbance of the lock in or unlock mechanism. We did not try this out on an older vehicle to see if it worked .
Despite the websites claiming that “ criminals have reportedly been using pennies or nickels to break into cars ” or “ people have been finding coins randomly stuck in the door handles of their vehicles, ” these statements are made without citing any official sources to corroborate such claims .
We could find no attest that this has been reported to be a trouble by any law enforcement means .
According to Autobytel and Edmunds, the most common ways thieves break into cars include breaking windows, opening unbarred doors, finding a “ concealed ” second set of keys, or jumping into a run vehicle left concisely unattended .
It should besides be noted that experts tend to agree that car thieves are not the most patient criminals. A Detroit patrol Lieutenant told Autobytel that most thieves are “ faineant ” and “ don ’ t want to have to work very intemperate to get what they want, ” while Edmunds suggests that car larceny is normally “ a crime of opportunity. ”
Bottom Line
An internet warning claims that thieves are wedging pennies or nickels into car doorway handles as a way to prevent vehicles from being locked. This appears to be an baseless rumor with no documentation cited. The floor has been repeated on numerous web site without citing sources for the claim. Most advanced door handles do now allow a mint to be wedged this way, and this would have no effect on modern electronic lock mechanisms .
