Thieves, tax evaders, and drug dealers have all been captured red handed on Google Earth. With Big Brother, Google watching, no crime is hidden from view. Here are just a few instances of crime and punishment caught on its Street View feature.
Most people may used the company’s impressive maps to find their way to the nearest pub, but the programme has also helped catch its fair share of law-breakers.
Google Street View launched in 2007 and has so far taken pictures of five million miles of roads, covering 39 countries and around 3,000 cities.
In the process it has snapped some rather unexpected moments as Google’s camera cars drive round taking snapshots of life.
This video discovers the 10 Crimes Caught on Google Earth.
10Bike Thieves
A teen dragged from his bike found an image of him and his attackers on street view. The two bike thieves were quickly identified by investigators and arrested.
09Illegal Weed Plantation
In 2013 Oregon police uncovered a huge marijuana operation on Google Earth. Curtis Croft was arrested for growing three times the legal amount of the drug.
08Secret Swimming Pools
The Greek Government has been using Google Earth to find tax evaders. Hiding the true size of properties, 16650 homeowners hadn´t declared swimming pools.
07Stolen SUV
In 2013 a car was spotted on Google Earth six months after it had been stolen. Found by landowner surveying his land, the car was first mistaken as an illegal hunting hut.
06Trailer Thief
Google Earth captured an image of a UK thief on the driveway of the home he robbed. Two years after police circulated an image of the trailer thief, a man was arrested.
05Dumped boat
A man faced five years in jail after illegally dumping his five meter boat in a vacant lot. A Florida cop using satellite imagery spotted the boat in front of the man´s home prior to the crime.
04Prostitution
Over 5000 prostitutes have been spotted on Google Earth. The images are usually taken as the women stand on roadside waiting for customers.
03Illegal Logging
Police in the Philippines used Google Earth to trace illegal logging of rain forests. Investigations led to the seizure of 5600 dollars of timber and 12 arrests.
02Brooklyn Drug ring
The Google street view car caught a gang selling heroin on camera. Leading to increased police surveillance of the area six people were arrested.
01Police chase
A Siberian police chase was caught on camera. Cops were seen chasing two thieves before their arrest was captured on camera.
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