New Hampshire and Maine Thieves May Use This Water Bottle Trick to Distract Us

Whether this warning about car thieves and criminals in New England is legit or not, it's out there. Plus, it's a great warning to always be alert, because parking lots are easily distracting environments, especially that secluded parking garage.

And living in New England, where seeing New Hampshire plates in Maine and Massachusetts plates in New Hampshire is quite common, criminals may even scout out those out-of-state plates, hoping the driver is a little out of their comfort zone.

Here's how it works.

According to the Bright Side YouTube channel, the bad guy will scout the area, put an empty water bottle in the passenger side wheel well of a car (usually the back tire near the top), then lie in wait.

When you get to your car, you're probably going about a routine, looking at your phone, or putting groceries in the backseat or trunk. Now it's time to head home or continue your errands.

You start your car and start to drive away, when you suddenly hear a loud pop and crunch that's not routine. This would jolt anyone to a stop and make them wonder, "What's going on?"

The hope of the thief (or thieves) lying in wait, according to Bright Side, is that you'll pull over and leave your car running while you jump out to take a quick look around your car and the immediate area.

That's when a carjacker will jump into your car and take off, or the criminal will quickly reach into your car and grab your handbag, phone, or any valuables sitting out.

No matter what, it's always best to be aware of your surroundings for your safety, water bottle or not.