Have you ever searched your address on Google Maps? If so, you’re probably familiar with the eerie feeling of knowing that other people can find an up-close photograph of your home so quickly. You’re not alone if you’re uncomfortable with having your house on Google Maps. There are home security and safety concerns associated with having images of your home on the platform.

Luckily, there’s a fix for that. Some residents are now “blurring” out their homes in the street-view function on
Google Maps.

“I’m aware of the trend, [I] haven’t seen it much here but it will catch on,” said Marvin Barlow, a sergeant with Murray City Police. “Criminals sometimes use online images of a home to look for valuable items worth stealing and any security barriers the home may have.”

Barlow said the photos can help criminals by giving them the possible layout of your home and the locations of
security systems. 

Burglars or stalkers can quickly check out your home on Google Maps and plot a way inside. Because it offers a thorough look at your house, it’s easy for people to understand the layout of your home and figure out how they’d breach your privacy and enter your home. 

Barlow said blurring your home on Google Maps can also have an
adverse effect. 

“It may raise the suspicions of the criminals, what are they trying to hide,” Barlow said. “In my experience, most burglaries are crimes of opportunity, they look for a weakness such as a garage door that’s been left open, doors/windows that are not locked, mail/flyers or other deliveries that pile up giving the appearance that no one is home.”

Danielle Croyle, chief of Police for South Salt Lake, said the best ways to prevent your home from being burglarized are to keep all doors and windows locked when leaving the house or going to bed, leave the lights on when you are home, and consider installing a security system. 

“Do not post your travel plans or real time vacation photos online,” Croyle said. “Real time posting alerts potential thieves that you are not home. Wait till you return to post those beautiful pictures.”

She said if your home is broken into, call 9-1-1 and do not enter the home. 

“Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have collected any available evidence,” Croyle said. “Write down any license plates of suspicious vehicles. Note the descriptions of suspicious persons in the area.” 

How does the “blurring” function on Google Maps work? 

It’s a relatively easy process to complete. 

Users can find their property on Google Maps and click on “report a problem” on the upper left corner of the screen. You’ll then need to answer a few questions and submit your request on Google to make the change. 

It’s also important to have proper signage on your property, indicating the use of cameras or security systems, or even a guard dog at your home. 

When you go through the steps to blur your home, make sure you’re absolutely sure you have selected everything you want to blur. Google cautions that once you blur something on street view, it’s blurred
permanently. λ