Simple habits, like paying attention in parking lots or pausing briefly before getting into your car, can help reduce unnecessary risks.

Recently, a few communities have circulated warnings about a basic distraction tactic aimed at drivers. Though such cases are not common, understanding how these tricks work can help people feel more prepared, especially in unfamiliar places.

Reports from several areas—first noted in South Africa and later in some parts of the United States—describe a low-tech method used to mark or test vehicles that may be easier to approach.

It involves placing an empty plastic bottle near a car’s wheel, often on the front passenger side where it’s least noticeable.