Google Earth and, in particular, Google Street view, allow users to travel city streets and the entire planet without setting foot outside.
via: Providr
They make life easier in a lot of ways, but for law enforcement, Google Earth and Street View have proven to be great tools in identifying crimes and nabbing the criminals. Take a look at ten times the eye in the sky caught bad guys in the act.
Fortunately, the Google Street View car was around and the cops were able to use the photos it took to ID the criminals and arrest them.
via: Providr
The Greek government took a different approach, using the apps to bust tax evaders. You're probably wondering how...
via: Providr
They used a birds-eye view to look for lavish expenses like pools, cars, boats, and villas. They'd then follow up to see if the homeowners had reported them.
via: Providr
A landowner in 2013 looked at his land on Google Earth and saw a car that he assumed someone was using as an illegal hunting blind.
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He called the cops and learned that the car had been reported stolen six months earlier.
via: Providr
The son used Street View to find any clues and stumbled upon the very picture of the man stealing it. The cops tracked him down.
via: Providr
Prostitutes turn up frequently on Google Street view, often in the middle of conducting business.
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Over 5,000 hookers have been spotted on Google Street View, though cops rarely bother to track down the offenders.
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Treehuggers will be happy to know that the Philippines used Google Earth to monitor illegal logging activity in the forest.
via: Providr
Here's the suspect fleeing on foot. They got him, and that arrest was captured on camera, too.
via: Providr