Residents of Ecuador's largest city are walling themselves into their neighborhoods to protect against criminals who are running rampant in the city, according to a report.

"It’s regrettable we have to close ourselves off and the criminals are outside, but there was no other way for us to feel safe," Johana Torres, a resident and president of a neighborhood in Guayaquil, told news outlet EFE.

An average of seven people a day were killed in Guayaquil in the first quarter of 2023, which is double the rate during the same time period last year, the outlet reported. Police say violence exploded following the pandemic and as drug gang wars erupted on the streets. 

Residents in certain neighborhoods are turning to security gates to keep criminals away, including in Torres' Samanes 1 neighborhood on the north side of the city. Six gates were installed around the neighborhood in December to protect the more than 300 families who live there and prevent outsiders from entering the area between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. 

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"If they didn’t break into your house, they robbed someone, beat someone up. Cars got stolen. All kinds of stuff happened," Torres said. She said the neighborhood averaged 12 crimes a day before the gates were installed. 

An urban planner and public safety expert told EFE that Guayaquil is working to "bunkerize" with security gates to protect law-abiding citizens from criminals, similar to other nearby cities that have high crime.

"These cities are in a process of bunkerization. The idea is to close yourself off and turn yourself into a bunker so no one can enter," Fernando Carrion told the outlet.

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"How can you enter one of these places? First of all, with a passport, which is an identification; secondly, with a visa, because you have to ask for a person’s authorization to enter; and thirdly, going through customs, which is basically a body search they do before you can enter. We’re creating a series of borders within cities," he continued. 

He called the new safety measures "a natural reaction amid government inefficiency."

The outlet reported that extortion cases in the city have exploded in recent years, with prosecutors recording 1,603 such cases between January and June, compared to 1,265 cases for all of 2022 and only 425 in 2021. 

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Robberies that target both homes and retail stores have also skyrocketed this year – already surpassing all of 2022's robberies.

Last month, residents in Guayaquil's Nueva Kennedy neighborhood installed 17 gates around its outskirts to protect the more than 600 residents and families who live in the area. 

"Since the start of last year, we’ve unsuccessfully approached the police [about the crime problems]. The cases rose and rose until we were left defenseless," Nueva Kennedy leader Francisco Torres told EFE.

"We got the idea to protect ourselves with a comprehensive enclosure that didn’t affect residents and allows us to walk freely on the streets once again."

DIY expert Chip Wade showed off some of the finishing touches he put on his home in Chatsworth, Georgia.

For a "Fox & Friends Weekend" segment on July 22, Wade and his family were in their brand new backyard at their home in the mountains of Georgia. 

Over the past year, Wade has been building a house with the help of 3D rendering. 

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"And now he's finished," said co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. (SEE the video at the top of this article for more.)

Wade explained that the key to a good backyard area is a "hardscape." He said he used pavers produced by Belgard on his patio, outdoor kitchen and fireplace.

"From modern to traditional, they've got everything, even design services," he said.

Wade then revealed both his cold plunge tub. 

"This thing is awesome," said Wade. "Next-level luxury." 

Some of the tubs have Bluetooth capability and spa-grade acrylic tubs, he said. 

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Wade's sauna was created by Saunafin, a company he said has been a leader in home saunas since the 1960s.

"They come in pre-fab kits," he said. "They have everything from traditional all the way to infrared saunas, even steam baths," he said. 

Wade explained that he assembled his sauna "in no time." 

Hanging in his backyard is an American flag — one made in the United States.

"Allegiance Flag Supply makes them right here in the USA, with American jobs. We love that," said Wade, noting the company also gives back to the military. 

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With his backyard done, Wade showed off his new M Grill, which he said was manufactured in "small batches." 

The crank feature of the grill means that a person is able to "dial in that control." 

"It insulates and keeps that consistent cook with this heavy-gauge steel," he said. 

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Turning to lawn care, Wade said that "everybody has been asking me about robotic lawnmowers."

Displaying an electric robotic lawnmower from Husqvarna, Wade said the product has "24-7 cutting, with ease and effortlessness," he said.

"Really, really great stuff. It just makes maintaining your property so much easier," he said. 

To learn more, watch the video at the top of this article, or click here to access it.