Man Leaves $2 In His Car, A Sock On The Rearview Mirror—Here’s Why It Stopped Break-Ins

A Los Angeles man says he created a “weird” routine to prevent car break-ins. He leaves $2 and hangs a sock filled with rocks from his review mirror.

TikToker Sebastian (@sebby.tv) shared a video viewed over 5.3 million times. In the viral clip, Sebastian claims his car was broken into over 20 times. As a result, he invented unconventional security measures to deter future burglaries.

The creator then demonstrates his deterrent strategies in real time. He shows exactly what he does whenever he parks his vehicle.

The first step is to leave a handwritten sign taped to the side window.

“Please don’t break into my car there is $2 inside,” the sign reads.

He then leaves the car unlocked and places $2 on the center console. Essentially, offering a potential thief a reward in exchange for leaving the windows intact.

The idea is simple. “It’s a small price to pay,” Sebastian explains, noting that replacing a window can cost around $500.

But Sebastian does not stop there.

Things Get A Little Weird

He then leaves the car unlocked after hanging a sock filled with rocks from the review mirror.

The unusual object is deliberately placed there to create confusion and a “weird” vibe. In hopes that it appears too suspicious to encourage further investigation into the car.

However, Sebastian still maintains some precaution and leaves no valuables in the unlocked car.

A Fake Security Camera

Sebastian takes his anti-break-in routine a step further.

He places a security camera inside the car. This gives the impression that the car is being monitored.

However, the camera is not connected and simply tucked into the glove compartment. It gives the illusion of a working security system without the ability to even record footage.

The Final Step Of The Strange Routine

Sebastian sprinkles salt under the back tires. He explains the salt is to “ward off bad energy.”

Combined with the misshapen sock hanging from the windshield, the car looks like a setup in a mysterious ritual.

According to Sebastian, that’s exactly the point.

“It looks funny, but it works,” he jokes.

He’d Rather Lose $2 Than Pay To Replace A Window

After experiencing over 20 break-ins, Sebastian says losing $2 would be well worth it.

According to Glass.net, replacing a side window in Los Angeles ranges from about $155 to $846. And rear-window replacements can be considerably more expensive, ranging from $171 to $1,836.

Although the actual price depends on factors including the vehicle’s make, model, and year, the type of window, and any specialized technology involved.

For someone dealing with repeated break-ins, the cost of replacing shattered glass can quickly add up.

Sebastian claims that after adopting his bizarre routine, he hasn’t experienced any future break-ins.

But Does Avoiding Broken Glass Create Another Risk?

While the strategy makes sense to avoid broken windows, it raises a bigger concern. Leaving the car door unlocked increases the risk of car theft.

Reports showed that Los Angeles experienced a significant increase in vehicle thefts during the pandemic.

And the problem hasn’t disappeared.

More recent National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) data shows a Los Angeles metropolitan area recorded 53,911 vehicle thefts in 2025. It’s the highest total among U.S. metropolitan areas listed in the report.

So while Sebastian’s $2 strategy may be designed to prevent a broken window, leaving the vehicle unlocked raises a very different concern.

Is He Serious?

The unusual routine left viewers divided over if it was an elaborate joke.

“I thought this was satire,” one commenter wrote.

Another added, “I literally can’t tell if this is supposed to be a joke.”

Some even questioned if insurance wouldn’t simply cover the damage. “U got insurance that pays for break ins bro,” a third said.

That prompted a practical response from another viewer. They pointed out that insurance coverage usually comes with a deductible.

But the most relatable question came from another commenter. He asked, “Bro do everytime you leave your car you have to do this?”

This may be the biggest drawback to the elaborate routine.

But after 20 break-ins, Sebastian seems convinced that his bizarre hack is well worth it.

Sebastian told BroBible that, yes, his routine is “serious” and that he’s been doing it for three months now.

The routine I shared is serious, I’ve been doing it for about 3 months.

“When I first moved to LA from Miami a couple of months ago, my friend had recommended that I leave my car unlocked at all times. I didn’t understand at first but then my car window got broken a week later and I had my bag stolen,” he shared. “Then it kept getting broken into until it was a normal occurrence, even with the door unlocked people would sometimes break the window and I would have to spend $300-$500 getting it replaced.”

He added, “So I got the idea to just leave that note on the window as well as leave the car unlocked. I was thinking how else I could prevent people from going inside, so I actually thought ‘what if I do reverse psychology’. If I leave a note telling people to take the $2 inside, and I put the money in clear sight, thieves will think it is a setup, especially with the cameras and the weird rock sock hanging from the rear view mirror.”