Why do people have wrought iron fences? (insurance, house)

[ajolotl]

right, and their dogs also.

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

It's also to keep random people from walking from the street to the alley whilst using your property as a thruway.

[aragx6]

to keep hookers from doing their business in your basement -- at least that's what we need one for.

[ajolotl]

By the way you can get aluminum for less. The untrained eye often can't tell the difference.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

It's also to keep random people from walking from the street to the alley whilst using your property as a thruway.

This is a big reason. Since Chicago has alleys, you really need to stop access between the alley and street. In Wicker Park we had a wrought iron fence that was about five feet tall out front, but on the alley side it was nine feet tall (with the garage providing most of the blockage). Unfortunately, the locks were broken (or not used) and we constantly had late night foot traffic from the park out front to the open-air drug market in our alley at the section 8 building. Our landlord finally got the lock fixed after (1) someone stuck our garden hose into a basement window box, flooding the rooms down there, (2) and attempted break-in occured in our unit where a window was removed from the frame, and (3) the unit behind us got cleaned out by burglars. We also had a series of arsons one night in the alley. This was all on a block with million dollar+ homes.

I'll reiterate that West Side crime makes the stuff on the North Lakefront look like child's play. Wicker Park and Bucktown are not immune.

[Irishtom29]

How are kids gonna sneak a couple of squares on the way to school if you guys block all the gangways?

[Gelasia]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

How are kids gonna sneak a couple of squares on the way to school if you guys block all the gangways?

What are squares?

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by MyssaTx

What are squares?

I imagine he means LSD tabs though I'd be surprised if that was big business for corner boys. Viles or rocks would be more likely.

[lenniel]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

It's also to keep random people from walking from the street to the alley whilst using your property as a thruway.

This is why I have a "Beware of the Dog" sign on my fence leading to the alley. I may or may not have a big, mean, pissed off and overly protective dog but it's not worth the short cut to find out......

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by MyssaTx

What are squares?

Cigarettes.

On the way up Quincy Street to Resurrection school we'd duck in the gangways and sneak a smoke.

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Cigarettes.

On the way up Quincy Street to Resurrection school we'd duck in the gangways and sneak a smoke.

Oh my, simpler times.