LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A watchful, alert neighbor can be your best defense in protecting your property. But criminals are turning the tables and using those well-meaning neighbors to help rip you off.
Sgt. Brian Dedrick with the North Little Rock Police Department says if someone comes to your door asking questions about your neighbors, this should send up an immediate red flag.
"You should be giving any information to anyone you don't know, especially information on your other neighbors, when they're home, when they're not home, when they're on vacation and other areas that could cause a problem," says Sgt. Dedrick.
If you are going to be on vacation, Sgt. Dedrick recommends not only asking your neighbors to keep an eye on your house, but to make sure they don't tell anyone that you are out of town.
"Educate the community and tell your neighbors, if you feel like it's not right to give that information, it's probably a good sign that it's not right to do it."
Sgt. Dedrick recommends that if you see any suspicious activity occuring in your neighbor, don't hestiate to call your local police.
"We love to get those phone calls," he says. "We can come out and find out what they're doing in your neighborhood and we can ask the questions and that way we know what they're doing."