Police say solving burglaries is a priority, but it has to be balanced against other crimes.
The national resolution rate for burglaries dropped into single figures for the first time last year - at 9.3 percent.
There were an average of 164 unresolved burglaries per day.
Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking burglary is an absolute priority for police.
LISTEN ABOVE: Acting Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers speaks to Mike Hosking
"We've got to remember that we also have to make decisions around crimes against people, sexual assaults, child protection, violence, homicides."
Chambers said some burglars are caught on the job but others need investigating - and that can take time because of forensic results.
He said often when search warrants are executed, police find a whole "Aladdin's cave" of stolen property, which they match back to burglaries.
NZ HERALD BURGLARY SERIES
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