
Drivers in Brazil have started using a rather unusual trick to prevent their cars from being stolen.
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The trick, which has gone viral on social media, involves placing ski masks or celebrity face masks on the headrests of the front seats to make it appear as if someone is inside the parked vehicle.
Following the emergence of this trend, mask sales have surged on Brazilian online shopping sites. The trick has also become popular in North America and Europe, where Halloween masks are typically used to deter potential criminals.
Beyond preventing theft of parked cars, clever drivers have also used the idea to circumvent the law. In 2021, a man in the U.S. was fined for placing a mask on the headrest and wrapping a jacket around the passenger seat.

The reason? He was driving in a high-occupancy vehicle lane on the Long Island Expressway in New York.
So, while using masks isn’t necessarily a problem on its own, it’s important to note that authorities will consider the driver’s intent if a stop occurs.
Photo and video: Reprodução / TikTok @beccamay / @autumnnrene. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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