Things to Keep Trespassers Out

Alarms

• Alarms are available to alert owners to trespassers on the property and those who try to enter the house. Some alarms are sophisticated enough to detect people when they get within a certain distance of the house. Other alarms are made to monitor the driveway. These alarms typically alert owners to any movement, and might emit a siren or turn on the lights to deter intruders. Some alarms alert the police 24 hours a day so owners can feel protected even while they sleep.
  
  

Fences

• Installing a fence around the land’s perimeter to define a property’s boundaries can diminish the number of trespassers. A fence is most effective if it’s made of barbed wire or a similar substance that would cause pain if someone attempts to climb over it. The fence should allow only one way out and one way in. Owners should purchase no trespassing signs and post them on the fence.
  
  

Guard Dogs

• Guard dogs can be effective in protecting property. They can be purchased already trained, or owners might be able to send their own dogs to school to become guard dogs. Most people are afraid of vicious dogs and will not trespass or break into a house if they hear dogs barking. Property owners should display "Beware of Dog" signs to discourage intruders with the possibility of being attacked by dogs.
  
  

Surveillance

• Surveillance cameras installed around the perimeter help owners detect trespassers. Monitors that are more complex can send an instant feed to the owner’s cell phone so he can take action. Property owners should post signs advertising the surveillance to discourage intruders even further. These signs have value even if the owner doesn’t really have surveillance installed because intruders might assume the signs are legitimate.