In today’s world, social media is filled with frightening tales of predators who supposedly target victims in chilling ways. Some people have reported strange signs like zip ties left on car door handles, plastic water bottles stuffed into hubcaps, or even suspicious figures lounging on car hoods! Although officials label these stories as “urban legends,” staying informed is a wise move.
Let’s explore a scary story from one woman who found an unusual water bottle on her car!
After a nerve-wracking experience in a parking lot, TikTok user Haley West is now spreading the word about “kidnapper tactics” that everyone should be aware of.
Haley felt the fear creep in as she described her unsettling experience to her followers. “I’m literally shaking right now. The weirdest s**t just happened to me. I just left Fresh Thyme, and I’m parked in this huge parking lot,” she explained in her TikTok video, her anxiety palpable. She recalled how, as she strolled back to her car, a man began walking too closely behind her, making her skin crawl.
“This guy was walking kind of close to me, and you could tell he was staring at me. Then he yells, ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ I ignored him and kept walking, but he just kept following me!”
Ignoring him only encouraged his pursuit.
Haley continued, “This man walks right up to my car and says, ‘Come check out my car; it’s nice, it’s a Lexus. You like it?’ I didn’t react because that would’ve given away that it’s my car, though I think he already knew.”
Instead of falling into his trap, Haley clutched her shopping bags and crossed the street, staying alert until she felt safe returning to her vehicle. When she finally approached her car, her heart dropped as she spotted a water bottle perched on the hood. “I don’t know if the two correlate, but it’s never happened to me. I gotta get out of here!” she said, panic rising in her chest.
Before wrapping up her video, she cautioned her viewers, “Harpers Point, Cincinnati, just be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially if you’re a woman. Be careful out there!”
As her alarming story gained traction online, a viewer chimed in with a disturbing insight in a now-deleted reply. “This is a tactic used by traffickers and kidnappers to get you to exit your vehicle… If this happens, just leave it there and drive away. It’ll fall off on its own.”
Despite the chilling warnings circulating online, officials are keen to set the record straight. They argue that tagging victims is not a common practice. After a post about a zip tie sex trafficking scheme went viral, the Michigan State Police issued a statement to debunk the rumors.
“It’s essentially like an urban legend or a scare-lore,” Lt. Brian Oleksyk explained to news station WILX10. He added that stories about flannel shirts on windshields or elastic bands around side mirrors are merely hoaxes.
“Criminals don’t warn their victims. This is not how it’s done. Very rarely do they prey on a stranger. Such myths can hinder our ability to investigate real crimes, as we must first prove they are false hoaxes with no basis in reality.”
What are your thoughts on this eerie phenomenon of criminals tagging belongings to identify victims? Share your opinions in the comments below!
