Most drivers wouldn’t think twice about seeing a random penny stuck in their car door handle—but they should. It may seem like a harmless prank or something someone dropped by accident, but in many reported cases, it’s actually a sneaky tactic used by car thieves to gain easy access to your vehicle.

When a penny is wedged into the passenger-side door handle, the door may not fully lock—especially on older models or cars with certain central locking systems. You might lock your car as usual, hear the click, and walk away thinking it’s secure. But from the other side, the jammed handle can prevent the lock from engaging properly. Thieves then wait until you leave, quietly remove the penny, open the unlocked door, and drive off—or steal valuables from inside within seconds.

This trick is often used in busy areas like shopping centers, parking lots, or outside apartment buildings, where people are easily distracted and may not double-check each door. So if you ever notice a coin or any unusual object lodged in your car’s handle, take it seriously—remove it immediately, check all the locks manually, and stay alert.