You’re about to start your car when you notice something odd:

👉 A penny stuck in the door handle — or wedged in the lock.

Your mind races:

“Is this a sign of a break-in attempt? A thief’s trick? Or just a weird coincidence?”

Let’s clear up the confusion.

While viral stories claim that pennies in door handles are a car thief’s signal — or a clever trick to disable locks — the truth is more nuanced.

Let’s explore what a penny in your car door really means, whether it’s a security threat, and what you should do — so you can respond with awareness, not fear.

🧠 The Myth: “The Penny Trick” — Do Thieves Use Pennies?

A popular urban legend claims that:

Thieves insert a penny into the door lock to jam it
This prevents the owner from locking the car — making it easier to steal later
Or, they use it as a secret signal to other thieves that the car is unlocked

✅ Sounds sneaky — but in reality, it’s highly unlikely.

Why This Myth Doesn’t Hold Up:

Modern cars use key fobs, not manual locks — jamming a lock is pointless
A penny won’t reliably jam a lock — it’s more likely to fall out
There’s no evidence of organized thief “signaling” systems using coins
Most car break-ins rely on keyless entry hacking, smash-and-grab, or stolen remotes — not low-tech tricks