Randomers Walking on Walls

[LadyBeth]

I'm fed up of constantly looking out the window to see random kids and men walking along our high side and back wall in order to take a shortcut to the neighbouring estate. I've just been woken by two of them chatting loudly as they walk the wall beside our bedroom. Aibu and more to the point what can we do to prevent this?? Sick of it. Caught one guy recently jumping the wall down into our back garden and casually walking across the grass to get out the side gate.

Sounds a bit naff, but I wonder if some securely cemented down garden ornaments would work. Of something large to partially block the way like a bamboo archway.

Spikes are perfectly fine but you have to put up a warning notice about them. This, I think, shows how dysfunctional we’ve become - having to warn someone who shouldn’t be climbing a wall that the spikes are there. If they’re climbing it when they shouldn’t they deserve everything they get!

Many many years we had this problem. Lived on a main road and by cutting through our garden, jumping the wall into the garden of the house behind us it saved a long walk around. It was very rare during the day but late evening and overnight, revellers from the nearby pub were a menace. My dad was a mechanic and one day he brought home a tub of used oil and grease and smeared it around the wall. Problem stopped instantly. I imagine that must have messed up a lot of clothes that night.

The back of the garden was being planted and the little plants were being damaged. The respite from this action allowed the shrubbery to grow and with the addition of a lovely pair of holly bushes by this corner put a permanent end to the shortcut.

I would suggest changing the coping stone to pointed or sloped, or adding decorative metal work or trellis. Longer term consider planting such as climbers (pyracantha is known as the burgler deterrant), to disrupt the ease in which the wall is walked/scaled. Lock the gate or otherwise make that route less accessible, etc.

Motion activated sprinkler system. They're designed to deter cats, but might help with your human intruder issue.

Razor wire, electric fence or a large dog?

Actually better still, a small dog. Preferably a jack Russell or chihuahua...

A sniper

Smear dog shit on the walls (may be best to wear heavy duty rubber gloves). Cheap and cheerful.

Prickly plants where they climb up and down. Sprinklers with motion sensors. Lock the side gate.

Anti loitering devices. Paint, spikes or wire. That's your choices.

I'd go with anti climb paint and a pyracantha.