Hawke's Bay rural properties are being hit hard by thieves who often tell owners they are looking for work.
That excuse was being offered along with the more common method of offering a name and asking if that person happens to live there.
"We have a lot of burglaries on our plateat this time," Napier police law enforcement team leader Senior Sergeant Heath Jones said.
"Rural areas are getting hit big time."
He said the spread of recent incidents stretched from Bay View to Havelock North with orchard sheds, garages and homes being targeted.
Mr Jones said the usual household electrical items such as television sets and computers were being taken, along with agricultural equipment such as quad bikes and diesel fuel. "They are going into isolated areas and taking their chances."
Police had received reports from some property owners who had come across people wandering around their orchards or fields.
When challenged they said they were seeking work. Others would go to houses and knock to see if anyone was home.
If someone was home they would ask if "John or Joe" or another false name lived there.
"If there is no one home, in they go," Mr Jones said.
Of concern were the growing number of new offenders coming to the notice of police.
Mr Jones appealed for rural property owners to note any vehicle types and registrations and if they had any suspicions about someone who had called on them to contact police.
"Let us check it out."
