It is suggested by some residents of gated communities that the gate is not the only reason for choosing the place. The gate not such a critical factor. Residents of gated prestige communities seem ambivalent regarding the community outside of the walls. The sense of community and security is not necessarily a consequence of gated communities. It is a manifestation of the fear of crime and separation from the surrounding community.
Crime is a greater problem for the lower income people than for the better off.
The incidence of crime in the central city is much higher than the suburbs. Neighborhoods of all economic classes are barricading against surrounding crime, to control gang activity, drug dealing and access. Schemes of gates, fences, and street barricades emerge as artifacts of the fear of crime. The cases point out the very real physical and legal problems that emerge along the way to limit access, even when consensus among citizens is reached. Street barricades and street closings retrofitted in existing neighborhoods are burdened by legal interpretations of public access.