Gates and fences provide a perception of privacy and security to the residents, and a deterrent to some criminals. But walls and gates can be climbed and without a security officer screening those individuals seeking access, security is not much more than an illusion. When an electronic keypad, rather than a trained security officer, is used to control access, it will be only a few weeks before every pizza delivery person in town has the access code. All this is not to say that gated communities are not reasonably secure. By design, walls and gates restrict access and provide both psychological and physical deterrents to intruders.
Traffic is slower, and the streets tend to be safer for children and pedestrians.
And property values are often increased. The overall point is, however, that residents of gated communities reap some benefits, but they should never lower their guard just because gates and walls are present. Rather, they provide some basic security considerations derived from well accepted security principals, and are a starting point for those interested in protecting themselves, their families, and their properties. This article is written for general information purposes only and is not intended to be, and should not be used as a primary source for making security decisions. Each situation is or can be unique.