I've written in previous threads about how people have walked onto our property as they're walking by the house, despite the "beware of dog" sign and then get upset when we ask them to leave. We have a large iron gate (about 3 meters tall) that you have to open in order to get inside the garden.

I guess we didn't learn our lesson, as we still don't lock our gate during the days, simply because we are coming and going all day.

Just a few minutes ago, my mother was walking back to the house and she saw two young women open the gate and walk right into our garden and up the stairs toward the house. She asked them what they were doing and they just started mumbling in Italian and left. (Usually they say "just looking".)

Now, I understand that people are curious and we have an interesting looking old house but what gives people the right to trespass in such a manner? We really haven't experienced this anywhere else. Even in the US or Canada where most houses don't have fences, people would never walk all over your property uninvited.

There have been many threads about the fact that the Swiss like to stare and this I'm slowly getting used to, even though it makes me a bit uncomfortable, especially when I'm trying to enjoy some time on the terrace or in my garden, but I really think that this is going too far.

Has anyone experienced the same?

That sounds wierd - is there a good reason why people are tempted to come via your house ? - is it a short-cut to somewhere else ?

We were walking down the backstreets in Thalwil a couple of weekends ago and there was a 'right of way' path which had low fences on either side and it started at the road, but connected to a private shared driveway and also went straight through someone's backyard - we felt very strange using the path...but we had our children with us and a pram and it seemed the 'obvious' way to go - it was like a 'right of way' that might be used by the postman, milk delivery or to move animals from a higher paddock to a lower one...

Was your house historically something else ? school, museum, ?

The thing I've also noticed here is that parks are also often gated...at first I couldn't decide whether these were public parks or not - because in Australia parks are not usually gated and fences are low so you *know* it's a public place - and private property usually has a 5-6 foot fence...

No Swisspea, we have a private yard, completely fenced in by a wall and gate and it doesn't lead anywhere at all. Our house is about 100 years old and there aren't many like this here so people do stop and stare, which is kind of OK once you get used to it. (It has always been a privately owned house.) But this walking in the yard is a completely different matter. Makes me want to leave the dog outside.

We live beside a private lane that goes nowhere, but many people think that it looks like a short cut. No one has ever entered my garden gate, apart from kids fetching balls kicked into the garden, but quite a few people stop outside and point at the house and have a look inside.

One morning there was a man wandering around looking for a particular house Nr. He said he had a job to do there tomorrow. I found that a little odd, I thought why would a tradesperson come the day before to find the location.

I also find my door mat moved at least once a week. At first I thought if may be just a cat that likes to sleep there, moving the mat so she doesn't get wet, but I heard that people go out checking for keys. Especially around this time of year when the evenings are getting darker early.

Wow! That is pretty scary Marie. I guess it's a good reminder not to hide any keys outside.

Maybe you could put a sign up to deter people, along the lines that there will be a fixed financial penalty for trespass- there seem to be a lot of these signs around our way.

That's very strange Lynn but then people can be odd or just plain cheeky. A friend of mine came out of her house once to find a little old lady in her garden helping herself to cuttings from her garden plants. When my friend asked her what she was doing, the old lady got annoyed and said that she had plenty and she only wanted a few and there was no harm in it. I must admit, I laughed my head off when she told me.. it always amazes me when you do catch someone in the act of doing something they shouldn't be doing, they get annoyed at you as if it's your fault that they're bonkers..
It isn't funny, however, when you have strangers walking up to your house just because they want to. Leave the dog out Lynn, I would.. but then again I'm not at all nice

Most houses I have seen have a "No Tresspassing" type of sign except
in German of course. Then most people know not to enter. Personally,
I would never think to walk into somewhere with a "Beware of Dog" sign.

Houses in the US don't have fences? That is a new one to me...

Usually only the back yard is fenced in most neighborhoods.

Forget the "Beware of Dog" sign and put up a sign that has the opening hours for visits and the price... in at least 5 languages (EN being the 5th).

You know, we actually were joking around about that. It's not a bad idea!

I'm amazed at this sort of behaviour as well, seems bizarre to just open somebody's gate and walk up to the house when you have no business there... unless, of course, they think you're running a hotel... large house, is it?

Your friend should've charged her for the cuttings... good plants are expensive, and rightly so!!

Put large pentagram, 666 and rubber bat with blood on the door If that fails then contact my Lycra buddy in blue-

Not that large. Doesn't look like a hotel.

Thanks Devil. Can you send me some accessories?

You can start by printing this one first. Even I got scared looking at that

I have a feeling that Swiss Dude is handing out flyers asking people to break into your house because you are tough on him.

That is pretty scary Devil!

You might be on to something!!! Maybe they were his girlfriends. He does like older women!

.. it's all the parties he has when you're out, Swiss Dude's place so everyone comes to have a look