Having nosy neighbours may be a good thing, says the leader of Wairarapa police's volume crime unit.
Keeping an eye on your neighbours is one of the best things people can do to prevent burglaries, according to Masterton Detective Sergeant Dean Cadwallader.
Mr Cadwallader said people often noticed things that seemed out of place but might not report them for fear of seeming nosy.
People needed to "get over the nosy neighbour syndrome because if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't", Mr Cadwallader said.
"I really believe in keeping an eye on your neighbours because people see stuff and don't always report it because they don't think it's important."