Two men alleged to have burgled a Napier man's home late on Thursday night were caught red-handed after being followed by an alert neighbour who saw them in action.
The victim told Hawke's Bay Today he had just gone to bed at his home in Wycliffe St about 11.30pm when a car arrived, a light was shone at the house, and a red-hooded man knocked at the door.
A 27-year-old who bought his first home last year, he did not know the person, chose not to open the door and the vehicle left.
But it was back soon afterwards, with a man carrying a crowbar forcing the front door as the victim fled through the rear of the house and hid while he called the police.
Meanwhile, a neighbour was watching as the burglars entered the house, and followed the thieves as they drove off with the victim's TV sets and Playstation console.