If you see a plastic bottle on your tire, pay close attention.

Criminals are becoming increasingly inventive, and a disturbing trend is making headlines worldwide. This method, originally observed in Limpopo, South Africa, has now appeared in other parts of the world, including the United States.

Here’s how this tactic works:

The thief selects a parked car and places an empty plastic bottle on one of the wheels – usually the front passenger wheel.

The bottle is not visible to the driver, but as soon as the vehicle starts moving, a crackling noise alerts the driver that something is wrong.

The driver naturally stops and gets out of the vehicle to investigate the source of the noise.

Then the thief strikes.