NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — Burglaries, break-ins, and home invasion robberies are on the rise, but there is a tool for homeowners to protect themselves.

People are able to “blur” out their homes in the street-view function on Google Maps.

“I’ve never even heard of that, and I think it’s a great idea,” said one police officer. “Criminals are coming up with new and innovative ways to do their job, so we need to be up on how to do ours. That is a very good way for people to protect their homes.”

So how does the function work?

It’s a pretty easy process. You find your property on Google Maps, click on “report a problem” on the upper left corner of the screen, answer a few questions, and submit your request.

“What a great idea to harden your target; meaning to make your residence a little more anonymous so that people can’t see what you have or what your house looks like,” said Law Enforcement Expert, Bruce Thomas.

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

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