I had a friend who could whistle to mimic the sounds of the phone companies trunk switching tones...free long distance!
Or tear off a 10 inch long, coin slot wide, piece of the cover from phone book..shove it down 10 cent slot on pay phone...then pull it out quickly,. While rapidly and repetitively pressing the return button. Some coins would come out into coin return area. Magic...but stealing nonetheless.
Early 90’s, the family and I are going into a Po’ Folks in the Nashville area, and in the “lobby area” (Area between 2 doors to the inside) there was a pay phone. My 6 year old son picks up the receiver, punches a bunch of buttons, and it’s like he hit a slot machine. I don’t know if the coin path was jammed, and his punching of the buttons enthusiastically dislodged everything, or if that particular brand of phone “featured” the ability to empty it via secret code.