CALIFORNIA, Aug 22: In Southern California, some homeowners are opting to blur their homes on Google Maps as a preventive measure against potential burglaries, according to Ryan Railsback, an officer with the Riverside Police Department. Railsback told ABC News that this strategy could make it harder for criminals to assess the value of a property’s contents and identify security features, potentially reducing the likelihood of theft.

“The crooks are looking for new and innovative ways to victimize people,” Railsback said. “It's good for the public to be aware of that and counter what the criminals are already doing.”

ABC News affiliate KFSN in Fresno, California, was the first to report on this trend. In response to inquiries from ABC News, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the company allows users to blur their homes on Google Maps if they wish. Users can request this feature by clicking the "Report a problem" button on the Google Maps website. Google also uses technology to automatically blur identifiable faces and license plates to protect privacy.

Christopher Herrmann, a professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, noted that the practice of blurring homes on Google Maps is not new. “The simple digital fix could stop robbers from targeting a given home,” Herrmann said. He explained that thieves often scout locations online to look for valuable items and security measures, including home layouts and surveillance systems. Blurring a home can obscure such details, potentially deterring burglars.

However, Herrmann cautioned that blurring could also have the opposite effect, making a property a target if thieves suspect that it contains valuable items or has vulnerabilities that need to be hidden. He emphasized that home burglaries are relatively rare, with fewer than 1% of households experiencing a burglary in 2019, according to the Department of Justice.

To blur a home on Google Maps, users should access Street View mode for their address on the Google Maps website (the mobile app does not offer this option). In the top-left corner of the screen, users can select "Report a Problem" from a drop-down menu and complete a questionnaire to request blurring of the Street View image. Google Maps may follow up for additional information if needed.