The Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division last week released a new zombie-themed campaign to help deter vehicle thefts in the area.



The new crime prevention effort includes a video posted to YouTube depicting "zombie bandits" hungry for valuables left unattended inside vehicles.



"We're launching a new zombie-themed, Hollywood-style video campaign designed to spread the word about stopping burglaries from motor vehicles," the Northeast Division posted on Facebook. "Although the videos are lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek, the message is clear: Lock it, Hide it, Keep it."



The LAPD also released a zombie-themed poster encouraging residents to "stop zombie theft" and referred to smartphones left in vehicles as "catnip to zombies."



According to the LAPD, there were more than 26,000 burglaries from vehicles in Los Angeles in 2012 alone. The new zombie campaign is one way LAPD said it is educating residents on the dangers of leaving valuables inside cars.

