Google Maps wears many hats.
You may be surprised to learn that law enforcement officials in the USroutinely mine Googles location datain criminal investigations.
The tactic has sparked fears ofprivacy violationsandfalse arrests, but its also led to a range of arrests.
Here are five of the criminals caught on Google Maps.
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This led them to a suspect, who was later convicted ofall seven charges related to the attack.
The offender was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.
The 61-year-old was arrested in Spain almost 20 years after escaping from prison in Rome.
A pair of muggers
In 2009, twin brothers mugged a 14-year-old boy in the Netherlands.
Six months later, the victim was surfing through Street View when he spotted his assailants.
The picture was taken just a moment before the crime, a police spokesmansaid.
After Google unblurred the photo at the polices request, the perpetrators were arrested.
One of them later confessed to the crime.
The suspects were among seven people arrested in an NYPD undercover sting operation,the New York Post reports.
The man was spotted on Google Maps by the 11 year-old-son of the vehicles owner.
British police laterarrested the suspectafter Google agreed to supply unblurred images of him.
If you want to avoid Googles all-seeing eye, you could turn off your location history by followingthis guide.
Apologies in advance for any future crimes thats abetted and a sincere youre welcome forany that its prevented.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
