In most jurisdictions, you have legal rights to prevent someone from trespassing on your property. Generally speaking, the law considers it a crime for a person to enter or remain on another person’s property without authorization or permission. Depending upon the jurisdiction, punishments may range from minor fines and fees to more serious criminal penalties such as jail time. In some cases, civil claims of negligence may also be available if physical harm is inflicted due to the trespass or other damages are suffered because of it.
A few things that you should do in order to protect yourself against potential trespassers include: (1) notify local police about any suspicious activity that might indicate someone is attempting to access your property; (2) clearly post no-trespass signs at all entrances and exits; (3) install locks on all gates leading into your yard; and (4) take adequate steps towards securing vulnerable areas around your home with motion detector lighting systems or surveillance cameras.
Be aware however, that certain exceptions may apply depending upon where you live - for example, public officials need not always obtain prior consent before entering a private residence if they believe there is an emergency situation occurring inside. Additionally, in certain states there are laws allowing individuals who own land abutting yours right-of-way access over parts of your land provided they use them solely for passing through. As such it would be prudent to familiarize yourself with applicable state/local statutes prior engaging in any form of self-help actions against potential trespassers so as avoid potential civil liability down the road.
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