A man sat in a chair in his driveway on Richway Drive in Albert Lea last Monday to watch lightning from a storm. It was after 10 p.m. He noticed boys going house to house, checking to see if the doors were unlocked.

Realizing what was going on, he yelled, “Hey!” He pursued them, but they ran off.

The story is reminder that homeowners need to keep their houses locked. But it also is a lesson for parents.

There is no reason any minor needs to be out of the home after 10 p.m. There is nothing for them to do but get in trouble at that point. Keep them at home or in a supervised location. Children free to walk the streets take risks for the sake of entertaining peers and often fail to think the consequences of their actions through.

In fact, the city has a curfew ordinance. It reads: “Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., it is unlawful for any minor person under the age of 16 years to be in or upon public streets, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places and public buildings; places of amusement or entertainment; vacant lots or other unsupervised places; or any private premises, other than upon where such person’s usual place of residence is located, without the knowledge, consent and approval of the owner or person in charge of or responsible for the private property.”

The hours for minors 16 and 17 years of age is midnight to 5 a.m.

Don’t want to see your child in juvenile court? Keep them at home at night where they belong.