Dutch muggers caught on Google street view camera

[Judi Lynn]

Dutch muggers caught on Google street view camera
Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:54am EDT

AMSTERDAM, June 19 (Reuters) - Dutch twin brothers who mugged a teenager in the northern town of Groningen were arrested after being caught on camera by a car gathering images for Google's online photo map service, police said.

The pair stole the 14-year-old boy's mobile phone and 165 euros ($230) in cash last September.

"The picture was taken just a moment before the crime," a police spokesman said.

In March, the victim recognised himself and the two robbers while surfing Google Maps, which has a "Street View" feature allowing users to see images of buildings. The images are usually taken by a camera mounted on a car.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/wtUSInvestingNews/idUSLJ87085420090619

[Judi Lynn]

1. BBC News: Google helps net Dutch 'muggers'

Page last updated at 21:37 GMT, Friday, 19 June 2009 22:37 UK
Google helps net Dutch 'muggers'

Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men after a boy they are alleged to have mugged saw a picture of them on Google's internet map service.

The police believe it is the first time the Google Street View application has been used in a Dutch criminal case.

It began last year when the boy, 14, claimed he had been attacked and robbed of 165 euros ($230,£140).

Months later he contacted police again, saying he had seen himself and the alleged assailants in a Google image.

"For us, it is unique," said a police spokesman in Groningen, in the north of the country.

"The picture was taken just a moment before the crime."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8110363.stm

[imdjh]

2. pic is here

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=nl&geocode=&q=Merwedestraat+Groningen&sll=37.439974,-95.712891&sspn=51.942762,90.351563&ie=UTF8&layer=c&cbll=53.205477,6.567739&panoid=e6SOw1umhdAcxRD0TRv2cQ&cbp=12,306.54,,0,7.44&ll=53.205563,6.567689&spn=0.004036,0.005794&z=17&iwloc=A

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thank you! I tried to find a photo, but failed. GREAT image.

The little guy didn't stand a chance: they were much larger than he. Very cool he got a last chance against them.

[madaboutharry]

3. A woman in Britain caught her husband

having an affair with her friend when Google street view had a picture of his car parked in her friend's driveway.

I think there is an argument to made against Google street view.

[Judi Lynn]

5. What a shock. Holy smokes. A sad way to learn painful news, too.

I read several weeks ago an entire crowd from a neighborhood somewhere spotted one of the google vehicles and chased it away, on foot.