How to blur your home on Google Maps
Some law enforcement officials say there's one overlooked measure that could help ward off burglars: obscuring their homes on Google Street View.
While the feature has existed for years, a growing number of homeowners are now choosing to blur their houses in online map images to reduce digital exposure, the New York Post reports.
It's an action authorities and crime experts suggest could help reduce the risk of becoming a target.
Ryan Railsback, a police officer in Riverside, California, said he's seen some residents take this additional step.
'The crooks are looking for new and innovative ways to victimise people,' he told ABC News.
'It's good for the public to be aware of that and counter what the criminals are already doing.'
Street View, a service of Google Maps, provides panoramic images captured by camera-equipped vehicles traversing public roads.
While it offers convenience for everything from navigating new neighbourhoods to browsing real estate, it may also give criminals an easy way to scope out potential targets, experts say.
Christopher Herrmann, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told ABC News that 'would-be thieves certainly want to scout their locations before they hit them,' using publicly available imagery to assess potential points of entry, spot visible cameras or alarms, and even identify valuable property visible from the street.
For those looking to conceal their home on Street View, Google allows homeowners or tenants to request a permanent blur.
Users can access the tool by locating their home on Google Maps, opening the Street View image, and clicking 'Report a problem' in the lower right corner.
A short form allows users to specify the area they want blurred. According to Google, once applied, the blur cannot be reversed.
'We'll review your report as fast as we can,' Google states on its site.
'If you entered your email address in the form, we may contact you to get additional information or to update you on the status of your report.'
Still, not everyone agrees that the tactic is foolproof.
Some warn that having the only blurred home on a block could have unintended consequences, potentially signalling that the residents have something worth hiding.
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These accusers were not rich or famous, but rather lured by the promise of a better life. It takes a lot of power to keep these kinds of skeletons buried. That's why Combs allegedly relied on a whole enterprise to conceal these allegations. But as the trial unfolded, they could not protect the cracks from appearing in Combs's public perception. To many, his conviction may not come as a surprise. We're talking about a man who once offered this omen: 'You're going to hear about my parties. They're going to be shutting them down. They're going to probably be arresting me.' Some of the allegations in the civil lawsuits were harrowing – one involved a nine-year-old. But these were not adjudicated in the criminal trial. According to lawyer Tony Buzbee, these allegations involve 'many powerful people' and 'dirty secrets.' With the trial's curtains closing, people are watching intently to see who will next be thrust into the flames. But the implications are bigger than your average celebrity trial. This case could change how we look at power. Bigger picture Combs's parties are not new. Time and again, the elites have been accused of abuse in plain view and relying on others to cover up their tracks. Look no further than the case of Jeffrey Epstein, which exposed the world's suspicions that abuse can thrive in elite circles — sometimes in plain view. While Combs's case is very different, it has revived the same anxieties about the intersection of wealth, power, and secrecy. The late billionaire-turned paedophile sex trafficker once hosted some of the world's most powerful men for exclusive events on his secluded Caribbean island. Epstein, who took his life in 2019 while awaiting trial, was accused of luring underage girls for sex under the guise of professional massages. Images would surface showing very young-looking girls at his island events. His guests – including President Trump and Bill Gates– were flown in on a notorious private jet dubbed the 'Lolita Express'. There's no suggestion these guests were involved in any wrongdoing. American-Australian survivor advocate Virginia Giuffre did historically accuse Epstein and Prince Andrew of abuse, settling out of court in 2022. Recently, she was found dead by suicide. Or take the 'VIP parties' of Dubai, where foreign women, including Australians, are contacted via social media, flown in and paid lavishly to be 'a guest at a VIP party'. Once inside the luxury hotel or yacht, they're locked into a cycle of abuse by super-wealthy men. Some women are left with permanent physical and psychological injuries. After accepting one of these invites, one Ukrainian model was recently found bloodied, broken, and clinging to life on a Dubai roadside. In these cases, glamour is used in a bait-and-switch scheme. Teams are used to silence alleged victims. And human beings are used as toys. Behind the shine Like Combs, Gatsby's fortunes would turn with spectacular speed. In both cases, rumours, lawsuits, and raids shattered the public facade. But in Combs's case, only some charges stuck. But while Combs may have been using Gatsby's literary charm as a marketing tool, they're not the same breed. Unlike Combs's, Gatsby's crimes – bootlegging – are relatively harmless. And unlike Gatsby, who was driven to throw his parties in search of love and acceptance, Combs was motivated by power. Gatsby was chasing an elusive American Dream. Combs was clinging to his control. Combs is no Gatsby. The lesson is timeworn: all that glitters is not gold. Learn to look beyond the shimmer of showcased wealth. It might not produce the same magnetic pull, but perhaps a more accurate literary comp title for Combs's parties would be Hunger Games. This series is set in a dystopia where the rich watch people fight for their lives as entertainment. Perhaps it's time we started looking at elite events through the same lens. Or maybe we should consider Kendrick Lamar's advice. 'It's time to watch the party die.'
