Most residents – especially those who have moved here from Sydney – will tell you that one of the great things about living in the Bathurst region is that crime rates are much lower in the bush.

But we should never be lulled into thinking crime does not exist at all.

The two incidents reported on today may come from different ends of the scale of seriousness, but both require us to think about our personal safety and the protection of our property.

Most concerning is certainly the case of a teenager robbed at knifepoint in Mitre Street early yesterday.

It is alleged the assailant held a knife to the teen’s throat before making off with his phone.

The incident happened late at night, but most would still have felt reasonably safe on the streets at that time – particularly when walking with a friend.

Police are yet to make an arrest in this case and it will only be after an offender is caught that we will learn the reasons for this theft.

In the meantime, though, we should take the tip to be alert (but not alarmed) whenever we find ourselves on the streets late at night.

The second incident, the burning of a wheelie bin in Kelso, would be dismissed as an annoying prank if it didn’t continue what nearby residents say has been a concerted campaign of anti-social behaviour in the area.

They say young vandals are using a laneway as a convenient escape route while making residents’ lives a misery.

These stories from the dark side of Bathurst life are not what we like to associate with our region, but they are the sad reality.

Bathurst remains a great place to live and raise a family, but we should never for a moment think it’s Utopia.