Once upon a time, Natchez was a little like the Town of Mayberry, popularized on the TV series, “The Andy Griffith Show.”

In fact, Natchez wasn’t alone. Most of rural America felt like the fictitious North Carolina hamlet where Sheriff Taylor could resolve nearly any crime within the confines of a 30-minute show.

Lots of folks will lament that the world has changed — and that’s true to an extent. The growing use of illegal drugs has fueled an increase in petty crime. More importantly, our awareness of crime has become much more heightened in the modern world in which we’re constantly bombarded with stories of crime — from all corners of the world.

But the reality is that Mayberry never existed, and Natchez was never crime-free.

The good folks of Mayberry did, however, illustrate one great trait that often aided Sheriff Taylor in his crime-solving efforts — they reported any suspicious activity to the sheriff or his trusty sidekick Barney Fife.

Natchez residents can learn a great deal from the Mayberry populace. The police need our help.

That starts with being smart and observant residents. We all must realize that locking car and house doors is a must to prevent crimes such as the burglaries of opportunity that more than a dozen downtown Natchez residents experienced in recent days.

Just like Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Fife, Natchez police need our help in fighting crimes and working to “nip it in the bud” forever.