[Rick Lee]

We have a ton of them here in the Phoenix area. I think they offer a grossly false sense of security. When we were shopping for a house, we often needed a gate code to get into the neighborhood. I was usually coming on my bike, wife was coming from work in her car and our realtor (Eric Coffey) was coming in his car. Eric usually had the gate code on the MLS printout, but I almost always either rode my bike through the pedestrian gate on the sidewalk or followed another car in. My wife usually called from the gate to ask the code or have us walk in front of it to make it open or she also followed another car in. Any somewhat determined thief would have no problem at all getting in. Other than being a giant "keep out" sign, I really don't see what a gated community offers in terms of added security. The only way they keep me out is if I was planning to casually drive or ride through to look at the neighborhood. Usually, I just skipped it if I didn't get behind some other vehicle going in. I have the gate codes for the few friends I have here who live in such communities. I highly doubt anyone has kept from being robbed because of a gated community.