In recent years, social media has been filled with warnings about how criminals might mark vehicles to target victims.
While some authorities call these stories “urban legends,” it’s still smart to stay alert.

One woman, Hailey West, shared a chilling experience that’s now gone viral.
After finishing her shopping trip, Hailey was walking back to her car when a strange man approached her.

“He yelled, ‘Hey, what’s your name?’” Hailey said. She ignored him and kept walking, but he kept following her across the parking lot.
The man then pointed to a nearby Lexus and said, “Go check out my car, do you like it?” Hailey refused to engage, worried it might reveal which car was hers — though she suspected he already knew.

Instead of getting in her car, she quickly crossed the street and waited until she felt safe.

When Hailey finally returned to her car, she noticed something strange — a plastic water bottle sitting on the hood.

After she posted her story online, another user warned her: criminals sometimes use objects like bottles to distract you.
The idea is to make you get out of your car after you start driving — giving them a chance to steal your car or worse.

The advice?
If you find something strange like a bottle on your car, don’t get out right away.
Just drive off — the bottle will fall off on its own.

Stay safe and stay aware!