What many don’t realize is that this plastic-bottle-under-the-tire tactic is not random littering. It’s a known strategy used by thieves and stalkers. The idea is chillingly simple: a criminal places an empty bottle between the tire and the car frame. When the driver pulls away, the bottle crunches loudly, causing them to panic and immediately stop and exit the vehicle to investigate the noise.
That’s when the attacker makes their move—often stealing the car, sometimes attempting something far worse.
Margaret had read about this trick before, but never imagined it could happen so close to home.
A Silent Cry for Help
Her daughter-in-law worked late hours, often leaving the building after dark. The parking lot, though monitored, had several blind spots. Each time she found the bottle, it had been placed on the same side of the car. Whoever was doing this was watching. They were waiting.
Margaret’s worry turned to resolve.
She urged her daughter-in-law not to remove the bottle herself, not to get into the car immediately, and not to leave the building alone. Together, they contacted her workplace security and the local authorities. Cameras were checked. Patrols were increased. And for the first time in weeks, her daughter-in-law felt a small measure of safety.
Awareness Saves Lives
This story is a reminder that danger doesn’t always appear in obvious ways. Sometimes it comes disguised as something ordinary—something as simple as a plastic bottle.
If you ever find an object lodged near your tire that you didn’t put there, take it seriously:
•Do not get into your car.
•Return immediately to a safe place.
•Call security or the police.
•Have someone accompany you to inspect the vehicle.
Margaret and her daughter-in-law’s quick action may have prevented a terrible incident. But many others remain unaware of this subtle but dangerous tactic.
A Message to Anyone Who Feels Alone
Margaret realized something else, too: when someone is grieving, isolated, or vulnerable, danger feels twice as heavy. But support—even from one person—can change everything.
Her daughter-in-law may have lost her husband, but she didn’t lose her family.
And together, they reminded each other of a powerful truth:
Evil often hides in small things. But so does love, protection, and courage.
