If You Notice a Coin in Your Car Door Handle

You’re walking toward your car after a long day. Maybe you’re leaving work, a grocery store, or a parking garage. Your routine is automatic—reach into your pocket, grab your keys, unlock the door. But then something catches your eye. There’s a small coin lodged near the door handle.

Suddenly, your mind races. Is this a warning sign? A prank? A coincidence? Or something more concerning?

Over the years, stories have circulated online suggesting that a coin—often described as a penny or nickel—placed in a car door handle could be part of a vehicle theft tactic. Some accounts frame it as a deliberate attempt to disable the lock, while others dismiss it entirely as an internet myth.