INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — There’s a certain “no duh” factor that pops up from time to time in our lives. Usually, the “no duh” moment follows a problematic situation that common sense could have prevented.

If the soup’s too hot — blow on the spoonful before tasting.

If the road is too icy — slow down.

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If it looks like rain — close the windows and bring the drying clothes inside.

In these instances, a little common sense is the right medicine, even if the brightest minds may have a moment of vapidity.

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So, in light of the ever-occurring problem of vehicular burglaries in Incline Village, as well as the North Tahoe-Truckee region, we are offering a simple prescription: Lock your doors to prevent theft.

It seems pretty obvious, but in an area like Incline Village that boasts a low crime rate, it’s easy to become complacent.

A few weeks ago, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release that spoke of an uptick in burglaries as 2014 came to a close.

It’s a common thing that happens every year around the holidays as people look for “crimes of opportunity” by stealing iPhones left in plain view in unlocked cars, packages left on the steps of vacation homes, etc.

“Criminals look for opportunity, and taking preventative safety measures may help in mitigating your chances of becoming a victim,” deputies said.

These days, the sheriff’s office heavily promotes its “Take ConTRoL” crime prevention campaign, which centers on four key messages that help prevent vehicle burglaries:

C: Clean it out. Remove valuables from your vehicle.

T: Take your keys with you. Never leave your car running.

R: Report suspicious activity or crimes to the proper authorities as soon as possible.

L: Lock your doors every time.

Additional safety information is available from the “Staying Safe” page at WashoeSheriff.com.

Seems simple enough, but in Incline Village and Lake Tahoe, too often residents and visitors can fall into a trap of feeling we have a greater sense of security here.

It’s our job as a newspaper to provide information, and, when it’s needed, offer an opinion on some of that information — no matter how simple or complex the issue.

So we urge residents to heed our simple advice to lock your doors. If you want to hold on to your possessions, take proper care by securing them.

No duh, right?

* For those with a good memory, some of the information included in this editorial is taken verbatim from one we published in the Friday, June 25, 2009, edition (back when we published three days a week), which goes to show that, whether it’s about locked doors, beach access or real estate head shots, some things in Incline never change.