If you thought you saw teenagers stealing from cars parked at Dana Hills High School on a recent Saturday — relax.
It was all staged for a professional photo shoot to support the HideItLockItOrLoseIt marketing campaign.
“We were really pleased with the turnout,” said Cassie Levine, Community Services Officer for Dana Point Police Services. “They all were enthusiastic and excited about helping us get the word out.”
Photographer Bill Thompson worked with the students, posing them in and around cars to highlight the threat of leaving valuables in unlocked cars. Beth Block-Levine, a Sheriff’s dispatcher, also was on hand to ensure that the images were realistic.
“Our Shwazooki campaign is aimed directly at this young audience. So getting students to participate is key to its success,” says Ron Leland, whose Dana Point marketing firm, Real Life Brand Architecture, is working with police to develop the HideItLockItOrLoseIt campaign.
The finished images from the October photo shoot are featured on the website, on postcards, in advertising and for future promotional uses.
Among the students participating were: Jeremy Knappe, Alex Brown, Alissa Wilsey, Jennifer Heinsius, Emily Horton, Taylor Carol, Alex Ybarra and Olivia Leland.