Does your community make for a convenient short cut?  Nonresidents cutting through the property can range from annoying to downright scary depending on the specific individual and the time of day.  The nature of a condo or townhome community makes policing even more difficult since most residents live in close proximity to a relatively high concentration of neighbors that they don’t know.

If your community has a problem with trespassers, there are a number of actions that can be taken.  Unfortunately, the most common action is limited to complaining to the association manager and expecting him or her to make things happen.  Trespassing signs may be necessary if you plan on involving the police, although realistically, it’s unlikely that the police or security will catch the trespasser due to response times.

Hopefully, a resident will take the initiative to videotape or photograph trespassers, which is powerful evidence.  Although fairly expensive, I would suggest creating a natural barrier like hedges or vines with thorns.  Additionally, lighting may also be a deterrent.  If you choose this route, a little psychology is helpful in predicting the offender’s choice of alternative shortcuts, since the problem may simply move to a different part of the community.