..so the email went that I received from a good friend.

Apparently, a trick tried in the US is now coming over here. Car jackers place a piece of paper in the middle of your back window. When you notice it and get out of the car, they jump in and take your car.

Well, thank goodness I’ve been told. I can panic whenever I see a piece of paper on my car.

Except it’s all a load of rubbish, and I guessed as much as soon as I received it.

I wish – really wish – people would do some more research before sending out emails that could panic people unnecessarily. My mother-in-law-to-be was given something similar by a friend, all about how microwaving or freezing plastic containers can cause cancer. Except that’s rubbish too. But not before she’d told friends and family, far and wide.

Make Snopes your friend too. And in the case of the above two examples feel free to read the following:

Are parking lot carjackers placing flyers on rear windshields of cars?

Does microwaving foods in plastic containers release cancer-causing agents into the foods?

Does reusing plastic water bottles cause them to break down into carcinogenic compounds?

The thing is, by replying back to people with these links, I know people probably think I’m trying to be smug or just make them look stupid. In fact I’m just against people being unduly worried. Especially as it’s Christmas.

Ho ho ho.