I have tried the Osage Orange hedge balls and they do work. Also I sprinkled diatomacious earth under the kitchen cabinets and hardly ever see a bug.

Years ago one of my teachers responded to an ad in the paper for a "Surefire Cockroach Killer". He received 2 blocks of wood labeled A & B with a page of instructions. "Place block A on a flat surface. Place cockroach on top of block A. Strike with block B."