Teen Mugging Victim Uses Google Street View to Nab Criminals
Google can be good for all sorts of things, from searching to shopping. Now, you can add crime-solving to the list.
Though some have claimed that Google’s Street View tool is an invasion of privacy, most of us enjoy the opportunity to check out our own houses on the web, or to check out a new friend’s home before dropping by so that we can avoid accidentally driving past it. (And it can also be fun to spot our old friend Waldo and other interesting occurrences on random Street View photographs.)
But now, Street View has been proven to be good for more than simply street-watching from your computer screen—the handy tool can also help solve crimes.
Last year, a 14-year-old boy from the Netherlands was mugged by a pair of twin brothers, and robbed of 165 euros ($230). He notified the police, but never expected to see justice, or recover his lost money—until, months later, he happened to scroll through Street View’s image captures from the street where the mugging occurred. As it turned out, Google’s camera truck had been driving by at just the right time to catch the two muggers in action. Though the muggers’ faces had been blurred out, the boy was positive that it was them in the photograph.
The boy went to the local police with his news, and Google passed over the original, unblurry copy of the image, which allowed the police to make a definite identification of the twin criminals.
The police force was surprised by the success of this novel solution to fight crime. “For us, it is unique,” a police spokesman in Groningen told BBC News. “The picture was taken just a moment before the crime.”
So if you’ve ever been the victim of a mugging, purse-snatching, or other random crime on the city streets, you might want to take a look back at the scene of the crime on Street View—it might be your chance to serve up justice through the Internet.
Filed under: General Interest, Weird,Liked this? You'll love these, too:
-
Webcam Viewer Saves Life of Lost Tourist in Germany
A woman watching a live webcam of a German beach noticed a lost tourist, and notified local authorities so that he could be rescued. Read More
-
Man Proposes to Girlfriend in Video Game
Bernie Peng knew his girlfriend loved video games - so he rigged up a special proposal she was sure to say yes to. Read More
-
Coral Rock Castle: The House that Heartbreak Built
After getting dumped at the altar, Ed Leedskalnin devoted the rest of his life to building a giant rock monument for his lost love. The weirdest part? He built it with no assistance, even though many of the rocks weigh 30 tons. Read More
-
Superhumans Among Us: People with Abilities Beyond Belief
Wim Hof can take an hour-long ice bath with no ill effects. But he's not the only person with physical abilities that would astound even David Blaine -- here are a few other talented humans who might just be bringing us to the next stage of evolution. Read More
-
Yellow Underwear, Broken China, and Other Unique Ways to Ring in the New Year
Want to start your new year off with a bang? Try one of these unique international customs. Read More
To our free daily newsletter, featuring good news from around the world, exclusive interviews with changemakers, guest columns, and subscriber-only weekly giveaways and special offers. Your privacy is secure with us, we will never spam you or sell your email address. Enter your email address below or click here to learn more about what you will receive.
Stanislav Petrov: The Man Who Saved the World by Doing Nothing
Miracle Fruit Makes (Almost) Everything Delicious
Liam Hoekstra, Superbaby: Todder Born with Superhuman Strength
Hachiko: The World’s Most Loyal Dog
80-Year-Old Harry Lee McGinnis Walks Around the World








