I posted awhile back, but this is getting more and more outrageous. Neighborhood people are jumping over the fence at our townhouse pool to go swimming. We reinforced the gates because it used to be possible to wiggle your finger in and trip the lock, so now they are jumping over the fence right in front of homeowners. "It's a hot day, I'm just trying to cool off," and "I live here but I lost my key," are common excuses. Not only is this trespassing, but we could possibly be liable if they were to get injured. I'm just gobsmacked at the audacity. One board member told me he thinks it's because we heat our pool to 84 degrees, while other complexes leave theirs unheated or just to 78 or so. Yeah, but we pay $310 per month in HOA dues! Today our HOA is having a police officer attend our meeting, to tell us what we can and can't do about these people. They do it at all times of day, and also after 10 when the gates are padlocked. Can you believe this?
I can believe just about anything anyone does. It's unfortunate, though. Hopefully the police officer will have some good suggestions.
Could your HOA issue a resident ID that you have to have with you at the pool? It would be a bit of an inconvenience for you, but it would give you a legitimate way to challenge those who "forgot their key."
Oh, I absolutely believe it! We live in a condo development and have had trouble with "outsiders" using our pool. Our whole development is posted as Private Property. The lock on the pool had to be changed so that it could not be opened from the outside, as yours is. This season we put out laminated passes for the condo owners that MUST be with the owner while at the pool. If not, anyone else in the pool (who is an owner) could call the POLICE and have the trespasser REMOVED.
Razor wire on the top of the fence? Nooooo...they would just bleed into the pool and what a mess that would be to clean up!!
LOL, Becky! The board has all kinds of ideas - security camera, security guard, lowering the pool temp (noooo!), ... There will be new signage stating that unauthorized people are trespassing and the police will be called. I'm looking forward to hearing what the police say tonight.
Woah, the nerve people have, I'd be enraged! What about those signs that say TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED & have the video camera rolling! I know, it's easier said than done.
Tee hee, this reminds me of high school and jumping the fence at 2 am to swim in our town pool. Oh, wait, I never did that!
My exact thoughts, Alice. If everyone would keep that in mind; they wouldn't have a problem calling police.
84 is way too hot for a pool, especially if people are using it for any kind of exercise. You can actually over heat if you are working out in water that hot. 78 is actually just right. 64 and you can charge people who are training for Alcatraz to come over and swim.
A hungry pitbull? Water moccasins? Turn the pool into scummy pond water? Just trying to be helpful here!
I've actually seen these signs...... "No Trespassing...... Survivors will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
At our complex, you must have your complex issued pool pass with you. Visitors can come in but the owner of the unit must be present at the pool. Visitors are charged $5 a visit (great way to make extra $$...and keeps people from having "parties" or tons of visitors)! Keep us posted!
Yikes! Visitors have to pay??!! Visitors at our condo pool must also be accompanied by a resident and have a visitor pass. Residents are only allowed to have two visitors at the pool at a time. This also prevents pool parties!
well, I would post really strict warnings about police and trespassing...then have a count of how man have been prosecuted or arrested or what not. They have those at the checkpoints at the border. you know, "XX trespassers have been arrested for swimming at this pool."
I'm interested in hearing what comes of this. I've never been in a situation where there were HOA fees, but I would be very annoyed at paying that fee monthly and having one of the perks of the community be ruined by rude adolescents.
I remember your original post - we had the same problem at my old apartment... but they were leaving broken bottles in and around the pool. They finally put up a security system after keys, ID cards, planting bougainvillea along the fence, and total lockdown after 10PM didn't work.
I like that sign How about a sign that read "Only A Jacka$$ would trespass to swim in this pool after the last trespasser died (reason unknown)"
LOL! Some of you guys are cracking me up! "Reason unknown" especially! Yesterday I saw no less than 5 little cameras set up. We'll see...
