Police have praised a quick-thinking neighbour for blocking four burglars from leaving a rural property in Waikato before officers arrived.
Police were called to the property at Sager Road in Whatawhata after a man discovered burglars at his neighbour's home.
Acting communications manager for Waikato District Tony Sasso says a man parked his ute across the driveway of his neighbour's property after noticing some suspicious activity on Monday afternoon.
Mr Sasso says the neighbour saw a shotgun in a ute, threw it into long grass and then called police.
He said the neighbour made an excellent decision to get rid of the firearm and get back to safety to alert police.
"The history of Rural Neighbourhood Support at it's finest, I think."
Officers set up cordons around the property and the burglars gave themselves up without incident before armed police arrived.
Three men aged 18, 20 and 21 will appear in Hamilton District Court on Tuesday, while a 14-year-old will appear in the Youth Court.
