Latest Way to Misuse Google Earth: Stealing Expensive Fish
Posted 06/29/09 at 05:22:12 PM by Andy Salisbury
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While the world has proven itself capable of misusing Google Earth in many different ways, its latest application has been to steal fish.
That’s right folks, it would appear that high end fish thieves have been employing the same software that was used to find a downed aircraft, to find valuable koi in people’s back yards. According to Police Community Support Officer Gregory, “Google Earth shows what is in your garden and you can see people’s ponds. One of the properties targeted has an eight-foot fence and is set back from the road. The pond is in the corner and can’t be seen. Unless you were standing right next to the wall, you wouldn’t be able to hear the running water.”
And, while they make a riveting point, Google stands up very well under pressure. A spokesperson of theirs replied: “Google Earth is built from information that is available worldwide from a wide range of both commercial and public sources. As such, Google Earth creates no appreciable increase in security risks, given the wide commercial availability of high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery of every country in the world. Criminals could use maps, phones and getaway cars but no one would argue that these technologies are responsible for the crime itself, that responsibility lies with the perpetrator.”
Talk about a verbal smack down.
Image Credit: Google
is this for real?
Submitted by Bless on Wed, 07/01/2009 - 1:29am
is this for real?
Uh oh!
Submitted by mesiah on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 8:27pm
We should probably destroy all of our satelite imagery. While we are at it, better get rid of gps, just think of how easy it makes high speed getaways..... why didn't I think of this earlier?! CARS! If we outlawed cars it would be alot harder to rob banks. Oh, and money, lets do away with that. Can't steal anything if there is nothing to steal.
I hate people who flip out about privacy and want to do away with things that obviously make most peoples life simpler just because a hand full of people abuse it. It all goes back to the old statement, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
Submitted by mrvander on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 6:46am
and while we're at it...why don't we ignore the 2nd amendment and outlaw guns? Aren't those responsible for killing people?
no sarcasm
Submitted by johnny3144 on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 7:19pm
actually, we should totally, should do that(no sarcasm)
The question I have is, why
Submitted by jcollins on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 7:40pm
The question I have is, why do they keep talking about Google Earth? Aren't the same type of maps available on Google Maps?
Submitted by vross on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 6:05pm
Never ceases to amaze me on how people are so quick to blame Google maps and the like on things like this. But, the same people will Twitter, Myspace & Facebook information to anyone they see.
Yes, the power to misuse
Submitted by I Jedi on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 3:04pm
Yes, the power to misuse ulimately lies in the hands of the people and not the power itself.
Submitted by Gatekeeper on Tue, 06/30/2009 - 1:10pm
So I'm confused. If the pond couldn't be seen, how was it SEEN? I know a lot of pond keepers, they love to show off their ponds. Koi stealing has been going on long before the internet. In fact, stealing has been going on since the beginning of mankind. Point the finger at our brains, not the tools we use.
I've tried to see local ponds from the maps, and you can't tell a dark shape is a pond or a tree shadow, imo... unless it is something like the pond pictured. Where it is REALLY big!
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