Watch: 'Jedi Lock Up' Demonstrated by Luke, Leia

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Hoping to capitalize on “Star Wars” fever to raise awareness about a nagging crime problem, the St. Petersburg Police Department released a video in time for the debut of the latest installment in the blockbuster franchise.

Titled “Jedi Lock Up,” the spin on the time-honored science fiction tale encourages residents to thwart would-be auto burglars by simply locking up their vehicles.

“Auto burglary is an ongoing issue in our city,” explained department spokeswoman Jennifer Dawkins. “Many auto burglaries can be prevented by simply locking the car doors.”

The department hopes the short video, which features pint-sized versions of Luke and Leia, puts a spotlight on the issue, Dawkins said.

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“We wanted to use the timeliness and popularity of ‘Star Wars’ to help us get this message out,” she said. “Hopefully, it will grab the public’s attention and help them remember to always lock up.”

Mini Luke and Leia were played by Alex, 11, and Marisa Lopez, 8. The kids are the children of Sgt. Ricardo Lopez.

Hundreds of auto burglaries are reported in St. Petersburg each month. According to department statistics, there were 479 reports in July, 374 in August and another 347 reported in September 2015. Auto theft numbers are a bit lower, but still top 100 reports most months. Police department records show 142 reports in July, 133 in August and 88 in September.

Auto burglary is a common crime throughout the Tampa Bay area with thieves particularly attracted to unlocked vehicles. Sarasota Police also recently released their own video public service announcement related to auto burglary. That agency’s crew, however, teamed up to put a spin on “Jingle Bells” in time for the holiday season.

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