Car burglary: does the nasty coin trick really work?

Created: 06/23/2022, 14:56

By: Marcus Efler

Car hacking for beginners: A coin under the door handle of a parked vehicle supposedly blocks the central locking.

Is it really that easy?

Munich – Central locking via remote control or smartphone has a number of advantages.

It is comfortable and it is undoubtedly also a step forward in terms of security that no longer can buttons be simply pulled up with a wire loop and the doors unlocked in this way.

But there are weaknesses in other areas: opening via Bluetooth, as offered by Tesla, is apparently vulnerable to hackers.

And that even normal radio keys are not absolutely secure, for example, "Top Gun" star Tom Cruise had to experience.

Is a simple coin good as a burglary tool?

(Iconic image) © Joana Lück

However, not only gifted hackers who intercept radio signals are on a thieving spree.

An almost astoundingly simple trick, which only a few motorists are aware of, supposedly opens the car easily, quickly and without leaving a trace: the coin-in-the-door handle trick.

Car burglary: does the nasty coin trick really work?

At least that's what rumors are circulating at the moment.

If they are correct, the thief would only have to invest ten cents – in the form of a coin that he sticks under the handle of a parked, locked car.

Preferably on the right rear where the driver does not notice them when boarding.

The next time the vehicle is parked, it is said that it no longer locks properly.

Now the car thief would have an easy time: If he knows where the car is overnight - because he has seen it there before or because he has tracked it with this Apple tool - he opens the door, clears out the car and gets it even his ten cents back.

In contrast to the way the driver compensates for his damage: Because there are no signs of a break-in, the insurance company can refuse to pay.

Auto burglary: is the blocking coin a real danger?

However, there is also two pieces of good news.

Firstly, motorists can simply check whether there is a coin in the car.

Second, they don't even have to do that. Because the alleged trick didn't work on any of the various car models from Opel Astra to VW Touran that 24auto.de tried it on.

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Apparently, this is a big city legend, a so-called hoax: a friend of a friend knows someone to whom exactly this happened or is said to have happened.

By the time things die down again, you'll probably see quite a few drivers who haven't read this article - and walk around their parked car before getting in.