`Operation Safe Summer:` Simple, inexpensive ways to protect your home

A home is burglarized every 15 seconds in the United States. Almost a third of those break-ins are done through unlocked doors and windows. Washington's Most Wanted's Parella Lewis is showing us ways to keep our homes safer with simple and inexpensive fixes as we continue ‘Operation Safe Summer.’

“We always lock our doors, windows are always locked. It’s those simple things that a lot of people don’t think about. Well, it’s the second floor, I can leave it open. No. you can’t,” says Detective Amanda Jensen with Bellevue Police Department. She works in crime prevention and says it’s often the basic things we neglect to do. “There’s another line of defense there people don’t think about,” Jensen explains. “And it’s that door from your garage into your home. Nobody locks that door, and you should.” And since a common way for thieves to break into homes is through the garage, Jensen says we have to treat our garage door openers like a second set of keys. “One thing I see is just the complacency. Even if you don’t park in your garage, a lot of people leave their garage door openers in their cars, and that’s just one car break in away from somebody being in your home.” Take the opener with you in a purse or brief case and keep it next to your car keys at night. Another easy thing you can do for added protection is use a dowel.  “It’s really simple, costs nothing your sliding glass doors, your windows, a simple stick placed in there so that the door can’t open even if the lock is defeated,” Jensen explains. And another inexpensive way you can add safety to your home is with window alarms that were purchased online for about $10. It’s an easy, two piece install that creates a loud noise when the two pieces separate. You can also get a door alarm for about $12. This too makes a loud noise when the door opens and alerts you to unwelcome guests. Experts also recommend a dead bolt for each door which costs under $50. And for those who want an added layer of protection, there is always technology.” Jensen says, “For not a lot of money, you can put small devices in your home; cameras that you can connect to your smartphone where you can take your own pictures and pictures are worth a thousand words.” There are so many devices on the market right now that don’t require wires or monthly fees. Small cameras that connect to an app on your smart phone and send an alert when motion is detected. Jensen has responded to calls where this has worked. “Their smartphone app had turned on because the motion camera in their home was activated. So here they are, nowhere near their home, looking at some guy in their kitchen. They were able to give a real time description of what the guy looked like, and law enforcement is able to respond at the same time without that person knowing.” Keeping your home well lit and groomed is also a huge deterrent for criminals. They are drawn to dark places where they can easily hide behind bushes or trees. The bottom line is stick with the basics and you will vastly improve your chances of keeping your home safe this summer. Jensen adds, “If you put enough things in place like an alarm system, an extra locked door, dowels in your windows, they’re going to be like ‘move on’ they’ll go to the next house.” Keeping your home well-lit and groomed is also a huge deterrent for criminals. They`re drawn to dark places where they can easily hide behind bushes and trees, so don`t provide them with any opportunities and don`t tempt criminals either -- put away things like lawnmowers and close the blinds to your home when you`re not there.