The police have advised homeowners across the UK to contact Google to ask for images of their properties to be blurred in order to prevent criminals from targeting them.

Police leaders believe that Google’s Street View tool puts homes at risk of being scouted by burglars. This warning coincides with a recent comment from the Neighbourhood Watch, which said Street View helped criminals find “easy pickings”.

Launched more than a decade ago, Street View has captured most of the UK’s major residential streets. Reportedly, since its rollout, crafty criminals have exploited the tool to scout potential residences to burgle.

Google has refuted the link between the rise in burglary and Street View, comparing it to “blaming the motor industry for crime because criminals also use getaway cars”.

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A Google spokesman said: “The imagery available on Street View is no different from what people can see when walking down the street themselves or when viewing images which are already widely available on a number of real estate and directory sites.”

Richard Cookie, chairman of West Midlands Police Federation, told the Telegraph: “I’m sure thieves are using this technology to make their jobs easier. The police use Street View as a tool, and I believe criminals do too.”

As per Google’s terms and conditions, the company has agreed to blur out images of people and properties on request. A number of celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney, Katherine Jenkins and former Prime Minister Tony Blair have already had their homes blurred.

Cooke said: “I would urge homeowners who are concerned to ask Google to cover up their properties. It’s the only way to be sure.” In 2014, an investment banker claimed that burglars had used the tech to target his mansion and steal £100,000 worth of jewellery.

Previously, Google had to defend itself against accusations that burglars repeatedly targeted a property in Bradford after noticing its door open via Street View. In the US, criminals have been convicted after allegedly using the tool to scout victims.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch, said: “Some people may think they are not at risk because many of the images on Street View are years old. However, the images can still be used to see if a home is in an environment that allows a burglar a swift exit. For instance, if a house backs onto a pathway or if there are various hiding places nearby.

“It is important that the public know their rights and can ask Google to blur out their homes on Street View. If celebrities can do this citing security concerns, ordinary people should be aware that they have that right as well.”

Figures released last year revealed an increase of in the number of unsolved domestic burglaries from 47% to 64%. In recent years burglary has increased rapidly, with more than 400,000 crimes reported in 2018.