Some of Larry Burg's young victims called him "Grandpa Larry." He befriended the seven elementary-age girls before molesting them over a five-year period.

"I thought he was a nice, gentle person. I was wrong, wrong, wrong," wrote one of his victims, whose note was read by her mother at Burg's sentencing last Friday. The 59-year-old, gray-haired truck driver was given a 230-year sentence after pleading guilty to seven counts of sexual assault.

"The facts of this case are as horrific as I have ever seen," said Natrona County District Judge Scott Skavdahl. "The things he took from these girls are irreplaceable."

Thanks to the courage of the girls in reporting what happened and the investigation by the Casper Police Department, Burg should spend the rest of his life in prison. But he should also serve as a reminder to parents that he's not an atypical offender. Some of the people who have worked their way into children's lives and gained their trust -- and their families' trust -- are capable of molesting them.

There are obviously good reasons for parents to want to protect their children from strangers who could abduct and hurt them. But according to the U.S. Department of Justice Statistics, about half of convicted molesters had relationships with the children, either through friends or family. Other studies have estimated the number of acquaintance perpetrators at between 70 percent and 90 percent, including family members.

The Justice Department's report, meanwhile, noted strangers were the offenders in just 3 percent of sexual assaults against victims under age 6, and 5 percent of victims ages 6 through 11.

What can parents do to protect their children from molesters? Here are some valuable tips from lifespan.org and Dr. Carole Jenny, a specialist in pediatrics and child abuse at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Rhode Island:

* Be very careful about who watches your kids. Make sure that your children's caretakers are people you completely trust. Jenny said she is "amazed when families leave their children with neighbors, casual friends and people they barely know."

* Talk to your children about abuse. Jenny said tell your kids to "trust their instincts." If someone is making them uncomfortable, tell them they should talk to a trusted adult immediately.

* Watch for warning signs. Most children do not report being molested. A change in their mood, unusual behavior, drug or alcohol abuse, depression or attempts to commit suicide can all be signs of molestation. Children may also display knowledge of sexual matters they shouldn't know or didn't know before.

* If a child tells you he or she has been molested, take it seriously. Let him or her know that you will always support them. The worst thing an adult can do is say, "You're lying" or "I know he would never do such a thing." Only an estimated one-half of 1 percent of sexual abuse reports are fabricated by children.

* Stay calm and reassure your child. If parents react emotionally in front of a child, he or she will feel frightened or insecure. Let your child know that everything will be OK and you are going to keep him or her safe.

We wish there were a fail-safe method of protecting children from the Larry Burgs of this world; unfortunately, it doesn't exist. But know who your child is with, and if he or she expresses a fear of being left alone with a certain person, find out why.