This Easy And Free Step Can Help Keep Your Home Safe From Burglars
You have a security system, you leave lights on, and perhaps even have neighbors or neighborhood security keeping an eye on your home. But there’s one more easy thing you may not have known you could do to keep your home safe- blur the overhead and street view of your home on Google Maps. It’s free and easy and can keep potential thieves from scoping out your home. According to Google,
If Google is the owner of the photo, you can request blurring or report the photo, as long as it contains:
Here’s how you can blur your home off of Google maps and help keep it safe:
- Open Google Maps .
- Find and open the 360 photo that violates the Google Maps Image Acceptance and Privacy Policies.
- In the bottom right, click Report a problem.
- Complete the form.
- Click Submit.
It takes less than 5 minutes and can give you added peace of mind about your security. These days, you can never be too careful. Some other simple things you do to keep your home safe from burglars include:
- Keeping doors and windows locked at all times.
- Keep your garage door closed, whether or not it has direct access to your home.
- Don’t have any valuables visible through windows.
- Have a neighbor get your mail when you’re leaving town.
- Don’t leave a hide-a-key outside. Keypad locks are great for this, you can’t lose your keys, and you can set up limited access for petsitters, cleaning crews, etc.
- Break down boxes of expensive items and dispose of them so any identifying logos or brands are concealed as to not alert thieves to what’s inside your home.
Two Of The Safest Cities In The Country Are In North Carolina
Safety can apply to a multitude of things these days. You have physical safety, financial safety, job security, safety, on the roads, etc. Your safety can be threatened in so many ways. But you want to feel safe. So what do you do? Well for starters you want to settle down in an area where you feel safe. Whether that’s a gated community or an area with a low crime rate, it all depends on your risk tolerance. If you live in North Carolina what are the safest cities you can settle in? The good news is that two NC cities are among the top 15 safest in the country. This is according to a new study by WalletHub.
It’s impossible to allude danger completely, even if you never leave your home. You assume risk every day, and people’s risk tolerance varies. This is something we saw a lot of during the COVID-19 pandemic. What one individual is comfortable with may not be the same as someone else. And that’s ok. In order to create this list Wallet Hub took into account the different types of risks and safety threats Americans encounter. Obviously this includes hazards that can lead to bodily injury or other physical harm. It can also include risks like taking out an unaffordable second mortgage, forgoing health insurance, financial security, or even cybersecurity.
The Study
All of this considered, some cities are simply better at providing a safe environment for citizens. To determine where Americans can feel most secure — in more than one sense — WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 42 key indicators of safety. Our data set ranges from the percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and road quality. Two North Carolina cities were top 15 on the safest cities list. Keep reading to see which ones as well as where all the major NC cities ranked. Or you can view the full WalletHub study here.
Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.
