Quiz: Test Your Home Security Knowledge

Think you’re a security whiz? Do you know all the ins and outs of protecting your house from burglars, thieves, and the like? Put yourself to the test with this home security quiz. You’ll find the correct answers and your “score” after the questions.

The Deep Sentinel Home Security Quiz

1. Where is a good place to leave a spare key?

A) Under the welcome mat
B) In the mailbox
C) Above the doorjamb
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

2. When do most burglaries occur?

A) In the morning
B) During the day
C) In the evening
D) Middle of the night

3. What does CPTED stand for?

A) Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
B) Camera Placement, Type, Energy, and Durability
C) Crime Protection via Technology, Engineering, and Design
D) Certified Police Training and Education Department

4. What percentage of burglar alarm calls are false alarms?

A) 5–10%
B) 25–30%
C) About 50%
D) 75–80%
E) 95–98%

5. True or false: Most burglars enter through a window.

A) True
B) False

6. Which of the following dog breeds is NOT a good candidate to be a guard dog?

A) German Shepherd
B) Rottweiler
C) Basset Hound
D) Appenzeller Sennenhund
E) Puli

7. True or false: A burglar has probably been to your house before breaking in.

A) True
B) False

8. In what year did the first “nanny cam” appear?

A) 1969
B) 1987
C) 1992
D) 1996

9. What percentage of stolen property is recovered and returned to the owner?

A) 67.1%
B) 42.8%
C) 29.5%
D) 14.3%

10. Which of these features are included in a Deep Sentinel system?

A) Live professional monitoring
B) Motion-sensing security cameras
C) AI threat detection
D) Two-way audio
E) All of the above

Home Security Quiz Answers

1. E) None of the above. If you picked another answer, it’s time to find a better hiding spot. For ideas, see How to Hide a Key Outside Your Home.
2. B) During the day. Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries occur in the daytime because fewer people are home. Lock your doors and arm your devices when you leave for work.
3. A) Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. CPTED is an approach to property design that deters criminal behavior. Tactics include planting prickly bushes, stowing clutter, and installing floodlights.
4. E) 95–98%. With traditional alarm systems, nearly all alerts are false alarms. As a result, many major police forces have stopped responding to unverified alarms.
5. B) False. The front door is the most common entry point for burglars (34%). Make sure you lock up and fortify your door.
6. C) Basset Hound. Although adorable, basset hounds are low-energy, sociable companions. However, the others are among the best guard dog breeds.
7. A) True. Burglars frequently “case” a house by posing as a courier, lost driver, or even a police officer. Someone who entered your home legitimately (maintenance worker, acquaintance, etc.) could return for an expensive goodie they spotted. And many burglarized homes get hit again after the homeowners replace stolen items. For more information, see How To Tell If a Burglar Is Watching Your House.
8. C) 1992. The other years are the first video security system patent (1969), the first Kodak products with digital storage (1987), and the first IP camera (1996). Curious? Check out our history of surveillance cameras.
9. D) 14.3%. Vehicles have the highest recovery rate at 46.1%, while the rate for cash is a dismal 0.4%.
10. E) All of the above. Deep Sentinel leads the industry with smart security cameras complemented by live video surveillance and intervention by expert guards.

Your Score

It’s time to tally the results. How many questions did you get right?

• 0–2: Uh-oh! It looks like your security skills could use a brush-up. You do remember to lock your doors, right?
• 3–5: You’ve got a good grasp of the basics. There’s always more to learn!
• 6–8: You can spot a burglar a mile away. The safest house on the block? That’s you.
• 9–10: Wow! You’re a bonafide home security expert. You might actually live in Fort Knox.

Don’t fret if you didn’t score 100% on this home security quiz. Just check out the Deep Sentinel blog to learn more about protecting your home. Next time, you’re sure to get a gold star!