A recent rash of auto thefts in the Minot area and a bizarre incident in?Dunseith should serve as reminders that North Dakota isn't completely immune from crime.

That doesn't mean residents should stay indoors and live in constant fear. But it does mean we should all follow come common sense guidelines to help protect ourselves from potential thieves.

As far as the car thefts go, making it as difficult as possible for thieves should be the goal of everyone.

Lock your car doors, even when you're parked in your own garage.

Lock your garage doors if you have a detached garage.

Lock your home doors, including the door from your house to your attached garage, if you have one.

A locked door just might be the thing that deters a burglar. Certainly a thief could still break into your home or auto, but it will require more work and will likely involve more noise.

The Dunseith incident is harder to protect yourself against because of its randomness. Who expects anyone, let alone a nude teenager, to steal your car with two children in it when you go back into the house to get another child? There isn't much the victim could do in that instance. But it's another reminder that crime exists in North Dakota, even if it's a once-in-a-lifetime incident.