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Three years ago, an Oklahoma City resident was held for an hour by burglars who raided her house while keeping her at gunpoint. Without enough evidence to find the perpetrators, justice seemed like a long shot. Queue a recent revelation on Google Street View when she identified the two men caught casually standing outside her house on the day of the crime. Police are now using this information to collect tips about the burglars and send them to jail.
These two were spotted along a Manchester street, caught in the throes (or, quite possibly, business) of love. Whether prostitution or indecent exposure, surveillance was the last thing on their minds when Google’s Street View car cruised past, documenting the afternoon romp. Fortunately for these two, the cost of this affection didn’t include court fees, as no arrests were made.
These young men were hanging out on their front porch of their Detroit home in September of 2009. One member of the group is seen holding a large gun and when the Google Street View car drove by, the man pointed his gun in the driver’s direction.
What makes this photo all the more threatening is that in July of that same year, a 1-year-old baby girl’s body was found in the closet of this same house after what her family alleges was an accidental death. The uncle supervising was arrested but no charges were filed, and because of the legal right to bear arms on private property, this is one disturbing scene that may not be brought to justice
Gentrification brought a different kind of clientele to Brooklyn’s corners, but it was clientele all the same. Three drug dealers were identified in one of their regular distribution locations in front of this Kingsland Avenue Grocery by a Google Street View car. The Police recognized the men and knew to keep an eye on the corner. Surveillance eventually resulted in a sting operation which lead to the apprehension of multiple members of the drug ring.
This 14-year-old from the Netherlands was having no luck pursuing justice against two men who stole his bike, phone, and wallet in broad daylight. That is, until six months later, when he found a photo of himself riding none other than his bike down the street just moments before it was stolen. Who else was in the photo? The thieves: two twin brothers who, upon investigation, were no strangers to criminal activity. Once Google submitted original photos to the Dutch Police, the brothers were apprehended and sent to jail.