A new car-theft scam is spreading across Europe: thieves wedge a banknote - often a fake 50-euro bill, though 20s, 100s and even 500s have been used - into a car's windshield or wiper to lure the driver outside, leaving the vehicle unlocked and unattended for a few crucial seconds.
Auto theft and break-ins have risen recently, pushing criminals toward increasingly creative distraction tactics designed to catch drivers off guard.
The sight of cash suddenly appearing on the car is often enough to trigger an impulsive reaction, with drivers stepping out to investigate how it got there, unaware that an accomplice is typically waiting nearby to strike the moment the car is left unattended.
The tactic has surfaced in multiple European countries, prompting several police forces to issue guidance on how drivers should respond if they spot cash on or near their vehicle.
In Italy, a man staged a demonstration of the scam that went viral online, showing exactly how the thieves operate. His advice: resist the temptation to get out.
Instead, drivers should lock their doors, start the engine and drive away from the area as quickly as possible.
Authorities note that the banknote used in the scam is usually counterfeit.
But even a genuine bill, they add, is not worth the risk - a car and its contents are almost always worth far more than the cash left behind as bait, and a thief is likely lurking close by, waiting patiently for the opportunity.