Any law enforcement officer worth his or her badge knows that criminals lie. The fact should come as no surprise. But what is a surprise — at least to us — is that there’s no penalty for fabricating a crime.

It’s the perfect scam.

Need to cover up some wrongdoing such as losing all your money by gambling or buying drugs?

It’s easy.

Simply make up a crime and blame it on someone that doesn’t exist.

Such instances happen every day, and the criminals who spin these fanciful farces get away with it.

But they shouldn’t.

Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff, District Attorney Ronnie Harper and along with the support of more than 3,500 law officers took this problem to state legislators last week in hopes of finding a solution.

The solution is simple.

Mississippi needs a law to create a penalty for such criminal shenanigans.

We can only imagine how frustrating it must be for law enforcement officers.

Having to solve real crimes is difficult enough. But being forced to track down ghost criminals in make-believe land is impossible.

And, more important, it is a waste of vital police resources.

We urge lawmakers to take a serious take on such criminal mischief and make it illegal.

Fabricating crimes should be as illegal as committing them. And that’s no lie.