First, the Raleigh City Council made the right decision to deny an affluent North Raleigh subdivision’s request to put up a safety gate to a cul-de-sac, Victoria Park Lane. Second, Police Chief Harry Dolan is taking the right step to meet with residents and neighbors to talk about security cameras and extra lighting and other steps to increase safety.

There have been numerous calls to the cul-de-sac in the last year responding to reports of break-ins, trespassing and suspicious vehicles. That’s worthy of some attention, and these citizens have a right to be protected.

But about that gate: Had the council allowed these folks to install a gate, which residents said would allow cars to enter but would photograph them, a precedent would have been set that would have basically backed the council into a corner. It would have had to approve all such requests, and while such security measures might have started as simply photographing all the cars going through the gate, it wouldn’t be much of a step to have that evolve into more restrictive access.

And that’s simply not something that should happen on a public street, even if the neighbors pay for it.

These citizens should keep a close eye on their cul-de-sac and document strange visitors or anyone who they think might present a threat. With some increased interest from police the problems they have had should subside.