Don't forget, when you make a village claim make signposts with one inside the wall and the other outside the wall.
Get a sign from the signpost outside the wall and attach it to the signpost inside the wall so you can warp into the wall by having joined the village and using the appropriate command, while also being able to warp outside using the signpost inside the walls that leads to the one outside. This is so you don't need to use the gate and have less of a chance of some guy running inside and wrecking havoc. It'll also prevent them from getting the key as well since you won't need it to warp.
(This idea was basically ripped off Avu's guide to protecting your village and rewritten in my own words. You can find it
Here. Be warned though, it's a bit harsh...