Our View: Careful goes along with quaint

Living in a small town certainly has its advantages over big cities, but sometimes we become complacent to the reality that crime does, in fact, happen here, too.

That’s why we are encouraging residents to keep their garages and vehicles locked, especially at night. We’re heard reports of vandals roaming late in the evening, prowling through cars and scavenging in unlocked garages. And while it’s relatively safe living in Carlton County, we are not immune to petty larceny and vandalism.

It’s easy to let our guard down. After all, we are not seeing violent gangs of marauders roaming our streets; it’s more likely bored teenagers acting immaturely, we hope. Or, due to the very real correlation between drug abuse and property crimes, perhaps we are seeing drug addicts turning to burglary and other property crimes. It’s not a crisis, but it is a problem.

And while law enforcement is quite responsive in our area, the police can’t be everywhere, so it makes sense for citizens to take reasonable precautions to protect their property.

So please keep your cars and garages locked at night. You may not need a fancy security system with cameras and alarms, but simple motion-activated lights will help you notice unwelcome guests. And getting to know your neighbors has several benefits, including security — a neighbor is more likely to call and tell you they see something strange in the neighborhood if they have your phone number and you have introduced yourself to them.

Finally, if you see something, or hear something, say something. If it’s an emergency, call 911, even if you just see someone suspicious roaming through alleys. Many times, police are out patrolling and can check out your area quickly. We have excellent law enforcement in our community who are eager to serve. Call them if necessary.

By following these tips and other common sense actions, we can reduce property crimes in our neighborhoods. We encourage you to do so.