Homeowners whose properties are featured in online listings and maps could be at higher risk of being targeted by burglars and thieves.
It is presently unclear how many homeowners have fallen victim to robbery after posting their homes online. However, there have been many cases where criminals used online services to look for potential targets. In some cases, robbers saved certain addresses on their digital devices-addresses they obtained on Google Maps, Zillow, or Redfin, per Fox News.
Why Putting Your Home Online Could Be Risky
Google has several services that provide high-definition aerial footage of homes, namely Google Earth and Google Street View. Specifically, Earth has aerial footage of 36 million square miles, while Street View has footage on 10 million miles of road worldwide. With that collection, Google has mapped out about 98% of places where people live, according to CNET.
On the other hand, real estate listing websites like Realtor.com, Redfin, and Zillow carry hundreds of thousands to millions of listings in the US. Often, these listings provided detailed exterior and interior photos of homes. Many listings also remain on the website even after the property has been sold.
These photos could give perpetrators intel on your home, helping them identify alarm systems, points of entrance, and blind spots.
"Right now you metaphorically case the joint out by going on these platforms with a cup of coffee in the comfort of your chair, and you gain more relevant data and intel than you ever did with [binoculars] and a vehicle outside the home," former NYPD detective Pat Brosnan told Fox News.
In addition to casing homes, car thieves could use online services to find information about a vehicle they plan to target. This ensures they bring the appropriate software to program key fobs to steal vehicles.
How To Protect Your Home
To avoid being targeted by burglars, Brosnan recommended against uploading photos showing your security systems, locks, gates, windows, and doors. He also suggested against using images showing where motion-activated security systems are at night.
Furthermore, home sellers should ensure that any valuable furniture or artwork is kept before taking photos of the property for a listing.
