Robbers in Netherlands Snapped on Google Street View

The victim riding his bike moments before being dragged off and robbed. (Google Maps)

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands—Police in the town of Groningen recognized and arrested two robbers last week, after their victim found a picture on Google Street View that was taken just moments before the robbery took place.

The 14 year old victim was dragged from his bike by two men last year September, after which they stole 165 euro (US$ 230) and a mobile phone from him. In March this year Google brought Google Street View online in the Netherlands, which enables users to see streets in a 360° view. In the same month the victim found an image showing the two suspects walking beside him on his bike, just before the robbery took place.

Because people’s faces on Google Street View are automatically blurred, police contacted Google’s head office in the US for the original picture, which they received earlier this month. The fact that the picture was taken just before the robbery took place “is an enormous stroke of luck” police spokesperson Paul Heidanus was reported as saying in de Volkskrant.

One of the detectives immediately recognized one of the suspects on the photo. The second robber turned out to be his 24-year old twin brother.

The image on Google Street View.