'Casing the joint' with Google.

[another_dave_b]

Story in the Indy:

The highly detailed satellite images provided by Google Earth opened a unique window on the world when it was launched in 2005, one that proved all too enticing for roofer Tom Berge; he used the website to hunt down a fortune in scrap metal on the roofs of historic buildings near his home in London.

Berge, 27, stole lead worth £100,000 from schools, churches, museums and other large buildings during a six-month spree that began in September last year. He used the website to identify the lead roofs by their darker colour.

 

[dellzeqq]

a few months ago a bunch of people - around 15 strong - are having an argument about the configuration of the roof on a building. There was no survey. Yrs truly walks out of the room, fires up Google Earth, comes back 5 minutes later, game set and match!

 

[simonali]

Won't see my roof on there. My house was built in 2003 and the GE images are from the year before!

 

[spandex]

But are they not updating them at the moment?

 

[simonali]

Just looked again - 2002

 

[sheddy]

A practice that is surely going to get worse with the Google street level mapping coming online

 

[Rhythm Thief]

a few months ago a bunch of people - around 15 strong - are having an argument about the configuration of the roof on a building. There was no survey. Yrs truly walks out of the room, fires up Google Earth, comes back 5 minutes later, game set and match!

You don't half go to some good parties.