If most pictures are truly worth 10,000 words, then the photo on the front page of Tuesday’s Herald was worth a million. It drove home the effect that harboring criminal suspects can have on the lives of everyone around.

The photo captured a little girl with her hands over her ears while a U.S. marshal showed her family members photos of a suspect they were seeking. While the family and many others at Willow Village apartments in Sharon had nothing to do with the suspect, marshals wanted to know if anyone had seen him.

Obviously, such a search is a necessary task, although it disrupts the lives of many families. It can be scary for adults and children alike.

But in a way it is also a good thing because these families should know that a possible criminal may be residing near them and they should take more precautions.

On Wednesday, the suspect — Richard Pruden of Washington, Pa. — was captured at a Roemer Boulevard home in Farrell.

Pruden. formerly of Sharon, jumped out a window and tried to escape from authorities, but was caught. He is accused in a slashing incident at a Washington motel where a Honduran immigrant had his neck cut. Pruden is charged with everything from robbery and assault to attempted homicide.

While in this case the fugitive was caught, this incident points out the problems that authorities face in tracking down suspects and criminals. Friends and relatives at times deliberately hide them, even though they may be aware they are being sought.

It’s time that the judicial system cracks down on people who seem to have no problem defying the law and allowing fugitives to stay with them.

The federal marshals had put out a reward for anyone providing information that led to Pruden’s capture. But after his arrest, they said that no tips had been provided.

Pruden needs to be questioned about his whereabouts in the last few days. The people in the house where he was found should be arrested if they had any connection with harboring Pruden. And anyone else who provided safe harbor for the fugitive should be charged. If found guilty they should be given maximum sentences.

It’s time that people realize that illegally providing hiding places for suspected criminals will no longer be tolerated.

And then, just maybe, fewer beautiful little girls would have to be afraid that some federal marshal would come knocking on their doors to question their families.