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LAPD Debuts 'Zombie' Theft Prevention Video

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Department has partnered with the undead to scare up some common sense in its latest theft prevention campaign.

Since its debut Nov. 15, the parody video titled "Invasion of the Zombie Bandits" has garnered over 2,600 views on YouTube.

The LAPD Northeast Division posted the seven-minute video, which features a gang of zombies attempting to break into cars parked alongside a residential L.A. street.

A description posted on the YouTube page reads, "The zombies are coming! And they want your iPads!"

The video - which is part of the LAPD's "Lock It, Hide It, Keep It" campaign - is aimed at educating drivers and teenagers about the risks of leaving cellphones, tablets, purses, and other belongings on car seats.

Approximately 400 cars are vandalized every day in the city of L.A., while in the San Fernando Valley, 1 out of every 26 people is a victim of property crime, according to police.

"It's a crime of opportunity," LAPD Capt. Jeff Bert said. "It's a crime that takes less than 20 seconds to do, and it's a crime very difficult for police to solve."

Capt. Bert suggested that the inclusion of something exciting and different into the topic of crime might help people remember tips more effectively.

"Talk about crime, boring," Capt. Bert said. "Let's talk about zombies, exciting. And maybe from there and come up with something that is going to resonate."

Ultimately, Capt. Bert says the goal is to remind the public what the police are about.

"We want the LAPD to be heroes, because at the end of the day, our job is still to try and catch the bad guy!"

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