We have a really bad homeless person problem in our area of town

Got a new one for everyone. We have a really bad homeless person problem in our area of town (really everywhere throughout the city) but they are constantly breaking into vacant units, sleeping in the laundry rooms etc. We run them off, have no trespassing signs posted everywhere, but somehow they figure out what's vacant. Today found two of them in a unit. Couldn't figure out how they got in. After investigating, realized they changed the locks on the front door! They had their own key! The police will arrest, but they are let out within 24 hours on PR, so back they come. I am not located in a bad area of town, it's actually quite nice just very urban.

Go to electronic locks on everything. Expensive but worth it in the long run.

they break windows or kick in doors. Had security, expensive and worthless. Walk units daily, caught 9 different ones in 2 days

Texas?

 houston

Either higher security that checks all vacants every night or try electronic locks. Electronic locks they may just break those too though. To be clear, an actual security company, not a courtesy officer. In my experience, they are not worth the discounted apartment they get.

Since they are only going in vacant units, if you aren't already, use a master key for all vacant units and have someone check them at the end of the day to be sure they are locked. This is the least expensive option. Agree that switching to electronic locks is best, but your budget may not allow and it doesn't sound like they are doing enough damage yet to justify the expense.

 locks aren't stopping them, they break a window or kick in the door.

Be aware that there are different levels of electronic locks/fobs. The ones that I've seen most commonly deployed are no more secure than normal keyed locks, I can copy them in five seconds. There are now fob copy kiosks in stores that perform the same functions for fobs that key cutting machines in stores do.

Yeah this. We charged $50 for a fob replacement and when I informed a resident she said never mind. At move out she turned in her fob and it was one we’ve never used.

You’re going to have to put in some sort of security system in place. You’ll likely need to budget it.
Whether you have 24hr patrol onsite or after hours patrol. Security cameras or even decoy cameras. Install deadbolts in addition to the regular door locks. Window and door alarms.
Or buy a few mifi devices and Wyze cameras morning cameras to move about vacant units.
Try buying light timers to have the lights go on and off at certain times to make it look like someone’s living there. Maybe buy some welcome mats too? (This would probably be your cheapest option).
Also your maintenance and leasing need to ensure all vacants are locked up every night before leaving. Additionally if your team is not walking your vacant every morning and night already they need to be. Because the homeless are likely watching and recognizing they aren’t checked daily. This is something our secured property in Santa Monica had issues with, they would watch and there was a gap where our patrol left and we arrive and this was when the homeless would break into our parking structure to steal or swap out bikes.

Can you add film to the windows that won’t allow it to shatter and make sure you’re putting 3 inch screws into the strike plate so if they kick the door it’s much less likely to give way.

Security on site or alarms on vacants.

They also make temporary security bars for windows.