Burglary Quiz - True or False?

Hi Community,

As promised, here are the answers:

1. Burglaries are most frequent during the summer.

True. This study by the US Department of Justice has found that burglaries have tended to spike during the summertime. 

2. Homes with security systems are just as likely to be broken into than homes without.

False. According to alarm.org, homes without a security system could be as much as 3x more likely to be broken into than those with a system! Perhaps it’s the yard signs, telling crooks not to bother.

3. Over 900,000 burglaries occurred in the United States in 2020.

True. According to the FBI’s data. The good news is that the number has actually been in decline over the past decade. We’d like to think that the rise of DIY home security systems - like SimpliSafe - might have had an impact on that!

4. Encrypted cell signals can’t be jammed.

False. Jamming is when an intruder deliberately causes interference to wireless communication, using a signal with similar frequency. Unfortunately, it’s a matter of physics, and all wireless signals are susceptible. This is why we strongly recommend having layers of security - like how SimpliSafe uses cell and WiFi in tandem for the Base Station, as well as intelligent jam detection, to defeat jamming attempts.

5. Renters are more likely to be hit by burglars, compared to homeowners.

True. Based on this study by the US Department of Justice that analyzed statistics between 1994-2011, rentals were actually more likely to be struck by burglars. That’s a big part of why SimpliSafe continues to focus on a system that can be set up to protect any home - including apartments and condos.

6. Entering the Duress PIN on your SimpliSafe Keypad will trigger an immediate alarm.

False. The Duress PIN works as a Secret Panic Signal - specifically for a situation where you might be coerced to disarm your system by an intruder. Your system will disarm like normal, and you won’t get a call from an operator. You’ll even see the normal disarm notification on your Timeline. But your system will send a secret signal to the Monitoring Service, who will assume that you’re in danger, and will call your local police immediately. So be careful, so you don’t type it in by accident!

7. The 2.4GHz band used by SimpliSafe’s cameras is not as good as 5GHz.

False. 2.4GHz and 5GHz are different frequency bands - kind of like radio stations. They both have strengths and weaknesses. 5GHz does offer higher transfer speeds, but 2.4GHz has much better penetration through physical objects - like the walls of your home.

8. Instant Trigger can be set for individual sensors, so you can choose which ones set off an alarm immediately.

True. Instant Trigger can be set for each sensor, so that triggering that one sensor will bypass the countdown and trigger an alarm immediately. We recommend this setting for windows, and for doors that you don’t need to pass through to disarm the system.

9. The Panic Button can be set to trigger Burglary and Fire alarms.

False. The Panic Button on your Keypad, Key Fob, and the standalone button, can all be set to burglary, fire, and medical alarms! The Monitoring operator will know which local authorities to send, based on your setting.

10. Secondary Contacts for Monitoring cannot cancel police dispatch.

True. For Burglary/Intruder alarms, Secondary Contacts are called after the police have already been dispatched. But those spots can still be handy if you have friends, family, or neighbors, who should be alerted if there’s an alarm event at your home.

How many did you get right? Sound off below!