The case involving Nancy Guthrie has attracted significant national interest. Personally, when the kidnapping charges surfaced, I found myself wondering about how easy it is to locate someone’s home address or cell phone number using a people search site. Turns out, it takes about 30 seconds.
After that, I decided to check out her home on Zillow and was struck by how much information was available. I could see where her furniture was placed, the entry points, and even the windows. It’s a bit alarming to think that with this information, someone with ill intentions could plan a break-in.
It’s worth mentioning that I’m not some tech-savvy hacker. I simply used a public website, one that anyone could access from the comfort of their own living room.
This issue is widespread
For instance, in Scottsdale, Arizona, two teenagers dressed as delivery people broke into a couple’s home, tied them up with duct tape, and demanded an outrageous sum in cryptocurrency—$66 million. They accessed the victim’s home address through an encrypted app from a stranger.
In another case in Delray Beach, Florida, a retired couple had their sliding glass door smashed. The burglar had learned their address from leaked personal data, and this crew continued to target multiple homes across different states.
Interestingly, police in Riverside, California, have reported that detectives frequently conduct Zillow and Redfin searches on cellphones taken from arrested robbery suspects. One former NYPD detective bluntly noted how today’s burglars can gather more information from home listings while sipping coffee than they could with binoculars outside.
Tech’s role in the investigation
Some numbers are daunting
Zillow’s database contains details on over 160 million properties, and many property images linger online long after the sale. This poses a significant risk, as old photos showcasing every door, every window, and even where you placed your security cameras may still be publicly viewable.
Google Street View, covering about 10 million miles of roads worldwide, is often exploited by criminals to scope out vehicles in driveways, backyards, and potential escape routes. Some thieves are even using drones to peek inside homes and check for pets.
It’s sobering to realize that anyone can use a free people search site to find your address in seconds, and a quick Zillow search can reveal detailed layouts of your home.
Unless you’re in the process of selling, it might be wise to consider removing those photos now.
Getting it done quickly
The steps to remove your photos can vary depending on your device and browser, but they’re generally straightforward.
- For Zillow: Log in to zillow.com, click on your profile, search for your address, and edit or hide photos.
- For Redfin: Access your owner dashboard, navigate to photo options, and hide any published images.
- For Realtor.com: Go to your home page, select to delete photos, and confirm your choices.
- For Google Street View: Use Google Maps, find your address, and request blurring for privacy. Just be aware that once blurred, it’s irreversible.
It’s also a good idea to check people search websites like Spokeo or WhitePages, which allow you to opt out of having your information listed. While it may take a little more time, it’s a crucial step in protecting your privacy from potential criminals.
If you’re not actively selling your home, there’s really no reason to keep a virtual tour of your property floating around online. Just take it down.
Sharing this information could help someone you know who bought a home recently; they may not realize their listing photos are still available online. It’s worth forwarding this piece to them.
