A fence and gate are your first layer. They rarely stop a determined burglar, but they take time, remove easy shortcuts and tell opportunists to go elsewhere. Police crime-prevention guidance agrees on a few principles: control access, avoid giving burglars cover and light the approach. This guide turns them into choices for fences, gates, shrubs and lighting. It is part of our room-by-room home security tips.
Choose a fence that does not hide a burglar
The Seattle Police Department's bulletin on exterior security warns that a solid privacy fence can give a burglar cover to work on a door or window. It suggests an iron railing, or chain-link, instead. Niagara Regional Police recommend fencing the perimeter with secure, lockable gates, and a UK police crime-prevention message suggests taller fencing at the rear and sides, with trellis, thorny plants or an anti-climb topping to make climbing harder. Check local rules and any homeowners' association limits on fence height before you build.
Lock and harden the gate
- Lock it. Seattle police advise a padlock on an opening gate; a UK neighbourhood-watch checklist says to keep side and rear gates locked whenever they are not in use.
- Match the height. A fence maker advises that rear gates be the same height as the fence, with hinges that sit close to the gate so they cannot be used as a foothold, and a top hinge reversed so the gate cannot be lifted off.
- Use a good lock. A weak latch is the usual failure point. Choose a hardened padlock or a keyed gate lock.
- Add smart control carefully. A keypad or video intercom makes sense for driveways; see smart intercoms and video door entry and keyless entry.
Light and landscape the approach
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office handout recommends motion-activated lights, bulbs of at least 40 watts at entrances and thorny or prickly shrubs in places a burglar might hide. See security lighting for placement. Keep trees and hedges trimmed so the gate and windows can be seen from the street.
Watch the gate
| Layer | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fence and gate | Delays and discourages access |
| Light | Removes darkness and draws attention |
| Camera at the gate | Records who enters; see where to place cameras |
| Sensor or alarm | Alerts you when someone passes; see alarm systems |
Gate and perimeter checklist
- Fence height and style match local rules and do not hide the house.
- Side and rear gates are locked.
- Hinges are not a foothold and the gate cannot be lifted off.
- Approaches are lit and shrubs are trimmed.
- A camera or sensor covers the gate.
Walk your perimeter like a stranger
Before buying anything, spend ten minutes outside at dusk and look at the property as a burglar would. Stand at the street and note what is hidden from view, then walk the boundary and look for easy routes in.
- Cover: hedges, sheds or fence sections where someone could work unseen for several minutes.
- Climbing aids: wheelie bins, garden furniture, a stacked woodpile or a ladder left outside that help someone over a fence or up to a window. Move or lock them away.
- Overhanging trees: branches that reach a first-floor window or a flat roof are a route in. Trim them back.
- Dark patches: corners that no light reaches. Mark them for motion lighting.
Gate hardware that fails, and how to fix it
Most gates fail at the hardware, not the panel. Check these four points once a season:
- The padlock. A cheap padlock with an exposed shackle is quick to defeat. Choose a hardened lock with a shielded shackle and fit it so the shackle cannot be reached easily from outside.
- The latch. If you can lift or reach a latch through a gap in the gate, so can someone else. Use a latch with a keyed lock or a hold-down so it cannot be flicked open.
- The hinges. Fit hinges so the pins cannot be knocked out and the gate cannot be lifted off; a reversed top hinge is a simple fix.
- Sag. A gate that has dropped may no longer line up with its latch, so people leave it unlocked. Fix the post or hinges rather than living with it.
Driveway and shared-access gates
Automatic or keypad gates add convenience but also new failure points. Change the keypad code when tenants, contractors or helpers leave rather than sharing one code for years. Know how your gate behaves in a power cut: some release and stay open, others stay locked. Make sure everyone in the household knows the manual release, and check local rules about emergency access before you change how a gate fails. A video intercom at the gate lets you see who is there before you let them through.
Maintenance rhythm
Perimeter security decays quietly. Put a short check on the calendar in spring and autumn: oil hinges and locks, test motion lights, trim growth that has crept back over lights or cameras, and walk the fence line for loose panels or new gaps. Add the gate to your maintenance checklist so it is not forgotten.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tall privacy fence good for security?
Not necessarily. It can hide a burglar from neighbours. Seattle police suggest see-through options such as iron or chain-link.
Should the gate be locked even when I am home?
Yes for side and rear gates, as a habit. Keep a way out in an emergency.
Do spikes on a fence help?
Anti-climb toppings can deter, but they may be restricted by local rules or create liability. Check first.
What if my electric gate loses power?
Check the manual or the installer for how it fails: open, closed or locked. Many gates have a battery backup or a manual release. Make sure family members know where the release is and how to use it, and that the way it fails is acceptable for fire and emergency access where you live.
Does a perimeter camera make sense?
A camera that covers the gate or the side access records who approaches and can deter casual visitors. Place it where it can see faces at a useful distance and is hard to reach; see our camera guide for placement and storage choices.
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