New Yorkers spy at night

New Yorkers are snapping up powerful telescopes to sneak a peep at their neighbours.

Around 5,000 people in the city bought a telescope last year, even though the skies are too polluted to see the stars.

Instead, many openly admit they are using them to spy on unsuspecting neighbours in apartment blocks and skyscrapers.

The new trend is straight out of Alfred Hitchcock's famous film thriller 'Rear Window' which starred the late James Stewart.

"I certainly don't want to invade someone's privacy intentionally but sometimes you can't help it," said Arnold Crane from New York.

"You see something going on and sometimes the object in the window becomes a magnet, especially if we're really not supposed to see."

Mr Crane bought a $4,000 telescope which he uses to spy on neighbours, but denies he is a voyeur.

He said he was only doing the same as everyone else in New York ... with a bit of magnification.

One owner of a shop which sells telescopes says business has never been so good.

"Distance in the city is not a safety valve anymore," he added.

"The average telescope we sell magnifies up to 60 times and the clarity is such that at a distance of ten blocks it would appear the object is less than a third of a block away."

According to the peeping toms, the best time to play I-spy is after dark.

Most people are back from work, relaxing and oblivious to being watched.

But many of the potential victims - especially men - seemed surprisingly unflustered.

"People look at you everyday. They want to be voyeurs, that's their business," said one male New Yorker.

Bill Buford loves the city

Bill Buford of the New Yorker magazine said: "I don't know if it's a really weird celebration of the humanity of the city.

"If you don't want it or don't like it you go and live in the country.

" But if you live in a city you are in a city because there's a thrill of being surrounded by humanity."

However, one New York woman who was interviewed added: "I keep my curtains closed for that reason."