Prevent Vandalism on Window AC Condenser Fins?
Where I live, almost every single first-floor window unit I've ever seen has had a word/drawing made of bent fins on its condenser coils because they're outside and outside means anything goes. When I moved into a first-floor apartment with a window unit, the unit was already slightly vandalized, but not really enough to affect performance so I didn't do anything about it.
Today, after three 100+ degree (F) days in a row, I decided the AC performance was kind of lacking so I went outside to check the fins and drainage. I found that sometime in the last three days, someone has written and circled a racial slur on the same unit by bending the condenser fins.
I'm going to buy a fin comb to fix the existing damage, but I'm wondering if there's anything preventative I can do to make sure this doesn't happen again. I've seen some people say to use a wire mesh or poultry netting, but my concern is that someone will just go "look at these idiots trying to stop me" and stick their fingers through the 1-inch gaps in the wire to damage the fins again. Are there any other options for me here? My budget is ~$30 and I'm a little handy so I can DIY whatever.