According to a recent survey of Australian policyholders by NRMA insurance, you could significantly reduce the risk of having your home burgled if you simply get to know your neighbours.

People who don’t know their neighbours, the study found, are more likely to have their homes burgled than those that are. The difference is most striking between city dwellers and those living in rural areas. Burglary rates [Guide: Home property related crime trends] are almost three times higher in Australia’s cities than in the countryside, and the research revealed that around a fifth of the city dwellers surveyed did not know their neighbours, compared with only 6% of the respondents living in rural areas.

The percentages who said that they did not know their neighbours were even higher among people living in flats or apartments, and those aged between 25 and 34, groups who also experience particularly high rates of burglaries.

Research in other countries supports the finding that friendly neighbours can be the best form of home security. In a UK survey conducted by Barclays, 97% of respondents said that they were willing to keep an eye on their neighbour's property when they were away, and 74% said they would call the police if they saw anything suspicious.

As well as watching out for potential intruders, neighbours can help to prevent a break-in by taking steps to make the house look lived in, such as mowing the lawn, collecting post and putting out the rubbish bins.

Insurance companies stress, however, that vigilant neighbours should not be used as a substitute for home insurance [Article: What home and contents insurance can do for you], or for taking actions to secure your own property[Article: Home security systems and how they affect home insurance rates]. If you are going away on holiday, make sure all your doors and windows and securely locked, don’t forget to cancel deliveries and consider using a timer switch on your lights to give the impression that the house is occupied.