Natural access control and surveillance contribute to a sense of territoriality, boosting security by encouraging users to protect their turf. Organized territorial strategies typically include neighborhood crime watches, receptionists, and guard stations. Mechanical strategies can be perimeter sensing systems. Natural territorial strategies include fences, walls, and landscaping. Provide clear border definition of controlled space.
Common law requires that space be defined to preserve property rights.
Boundaries may be defined physically or symbolically. Fences, shrubbery, and signs are acceptable border definition. Methods for enhancing the territorial response to create a sense of ownership or defensible space should be encouraged. The arrangement of furniture and color is a means of identifying interior spaces. Pictures, plants, and decorations help to define ownership and serve as environmental cues that may affect behavior of legitimate and illegitimate users of the space.