Another stranger entering a Bethlehem home last week has prompted Western Bay of Plenty Neighbourhood Support to encourage more families to join the organisation to keep neighbours informed.

On Wednesday, Bethlehem resident Olivia Fairhurst was working from home when she heard a voice call out from her dining room.

She says she was greeted by a complete stranger.

The 'scary” man talked about cleaning her windows and didn't leave when she made it clear she didn't want the job done.

Fairhurst posted about the incident on the local community Facebook group so that she could help people stay safe.

But Tauranga households concerned about crime and home invasions in their neighbourhoods can join Neighbourhood Support to help protect themselves and their neighbours, the organisation's manager Bruce Banks says.

If families are members of a group, they can notify their street coordinator quickly and get the word out to other neighbours quickly, says Bruce.

In June, about 50 people met in Bethlehem to discuss a series of home invasions where people reported having burglars enter their homes, and steal handbags, credit cards and other items.

Bruce says about 15,000 families are already members of the organisation throughout the Western Bay, with signs and stickers in their streets advertising it was a Neighbourhood Support area.

The organisation works to make homes, streets, neighbourhoods and communities safer and more caring places, he says.

'We know that areas where there are street groups have less crime than those that don't. Criminals see the signs and know that people will be watching them.

'We are close partners with Police, and crime prevention is still a major part of our kaupapa, even though we haven't been called Neighbourhood Watch for more than a decade.”

The organisation has street groups throughout the Western Bay with street and area coordinators where neighbours get to know each other and are kept up to date with any crime in their area with fortnightly newsletters.

'Neighbourhood Support ensures people get to know who lives near them, and people keep an eye on unusual activity in their street, helping each other keep safe and supporting those who are elderly or live alone.

'We encourage everyone to join - it's free and is a proven way to prevent crime. People can sign up for free at www.wbopns.org.nz/joinus.”