Google helps burglars

yogesh sarkar · 11th July 2007, 09:35

The burglary at Bigg City, formerly Mr. Bigg’s Family Fun Center, turned into a comedy of errors early June 10. The burglars tried to disable a security camera by repeatedly spraying it with WD-40 — it only cleaned the lens — and spent an hour and 15 minutes trying to open three safes, apparently unaware that some types require the dial to be turned two or three times.

They finally did a Google search for “how to open a safe” and “how to crack a safe” on a computer in the next room.

“They’re not professional safe people,” said Colorado Springs police detective Chuck Ackerman. “No, they’re not.”

On the other hand, the Google query apparently worked: The burglars haven’t been caught, and they did get about $12,000.

Source: Gazette

BunnyPunia · 11th July 2007, 09:45

Lolz!
U never know, next time on, when they decide to hit a house, they may carry a laptop with wireless net for more tips on how to rob a house

V-16 · 11th July 2007, 13:16

This is some news. The things you can get access to via the net!! Be careful of the techie types....you have been warned.

SRK · 11th July 2007, 13:27

Haha!! Thats really funny..
Google ki Jai ho!!

Mayavi · 12th July 2007, 01:32

A friend of mine comitted suicide last year and the last thing he did before dying was to look up google for ways to commit suicide and used google maps to zoom in on the location which he chose to end his life. We found the laptop in his room with google maps open.

He could have easily used google to find a psychiatrist or ways to get over suicide thoughts, but he didnt. Technology is a double edged sword.

SRK · 12th July 2007, 10:58

That is Bad...Google even helps to kill one??

True..Technology is double edged sword..and both edges are really Sharp!!

babureddy · 12th July 2007, 16:14

i think its wrong to blame google either for the robbery or the suicide. Its the same with anything, you can use your car to travel safely and also to run over a person and kill him, does that mean that its the problem of the car? this is the case with everything, its all about the way we use it.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 12th July 2007, 19:29

Guys, ever seen the uses to which plain, blank paper is put to? Some people pring P0rn on it. Some print test books, others print currency, yet others use it for printing publicity brochures and some of them contain seditious material, while some print magazines, and the list does not end here.
Same way with the net. The net is only a TOOL. You can use the tools for constructive as well as destructive purposes. It is really is up to the user - the human being.

vivekiny2k · 12th July 2007, 20:15

YUP,

tomorrow somebody will say cars help burglars.

Nitin · 12th July 2007, 20:54

It was reported that a group of thieves broke into a house in Florida. The guys had a few tools to help them do the job, but the best thing they had was a laptop. With a wireless connection tap, they were able to keep an eye on the surroundings of the house. They were in the house for 30-40 mins, and since the google updates happen every 4-5mins/at max 10 mins, they were able to make sure that no extra cars came up close to the house { which might prove to be a threat to them}.

Well..thats the way things go. Everything comes at a price..

vivekiny2k · 12th July 2007, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitin

and since the google updates happen every 4-5mins/at max 10 mins,

you mean google earth? i thot it updates once in a few years or something like that.

Nitin · 12th July 2007, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

you mean google earth? i thot it updates once in a few years or something like that.

oops..my bad. I was thinking about Google earth. As far as I know,satellite pictures are updates every few minutes. If I'm not mistaken, my brother did monitor the surroundings of his house, and he did see a car parked 2 houses away, and he saw it leave at 10.25am.. he had been monitoring the street since 9am and the car was seen in the pictures. At 10.36am, the car wasn't in the pics.

I guess google is the best way to look up anything & everything. Its amazing how so much information can be obtained with this search engine.

Mayavi · 12th July 2007, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitin

oops..my bad. I was thinking about Google earth. As far as I know,satellite pictures are updates every few minutes. If I'm not mistaken, my brother did monitor the surroundings of his house, and he did see a car parked 2 houses away, and he saw it leave at 10.25am.. he had been monitoring the street since 9am and the car was seen in the pictures. At 10.36am, the car wasn't in the pics.

I guess google is the best way to look up anything & everything. Its amazing how so much information can be obtained with this search engine.

No offence but your brother is mistaken. Google India maps have been updated only once as far as I know. Google america maps are updated a bit more frequently but not every 4 - 5 minutes for sure. Some areas are updated frequently and some less frequently. The car in front of my house has been there since last year. It gets very expensive to get satellite maps every few minutes and in any case the satellites take atleast 2 - 3 hours to circle earth once. in other words, it passes over a city once every 2 - 3 hours, so there is no way you can get an update every few minutes.

Nitin · 12th July 2007, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayavi

No offence but your brother is mistaken. Google India maps have been updated only once as far as I know. Google america maps are updated a bit more frequently but not every 4 - 5 minutes for sure. Some areas are updated frequently and some less frequently. The car in front of my house has been there since last year. It gets very expensive to get satellite maps every few minutes and in any case the satellites take atleast 2 - 3 hours to circle earth once. in other words, it passes over a city once every 2 - 3 hours, so there is no way you can get an update every few minutes.

makes sense..I'll check with my brother. Like I said, I might be wrong with the update frequency.

vivekiny2k · 12th July 2007, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayavi

. It gets very expensive to get satellite maps every few minutes and in any case the satellites take atleast 2 - 3 hours to circle earth once. in other words, it passes over a city once every 2 - 3 hours, so there is no way you can get an update every few minutes.

comedy of scietific errors.

most of the satellites are (almost) geostationary.

2-3 hours to circle the earth, can you imagine the speed if they really did?
fastest planes take 15 hrs to reach India from US.

11th July 2007, 09:35	#1
yogesh sarkar BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 238 Thanked: 37 Times	Google helps burglars The burglary at Bigg City, formerly Mr. Bigg’s Family Fun Center, turned into a comedy of errors early June 10. The burglars tried to disable a security camera by repeatedly spraying it with WD-40 — it only cleaned the lens — and spent an hour and 15 minutes trying to open three safes, apparently unaware that some types require the dial to be turned two or three times. They finally did a Google search for “how to open a safe” and “how to crack a safe” on a computer in the next room. “They’re not professional safe people,” said Colorado Springs police detective Chuck Ackerman. “No, they’re not.” On the other hand, the Google query apparently worked: The burglars haven’t been caught, and they did get about $12,000. Source: Gazette
	() Thanks

11th July 2007, 09:45	#2
BunnyPunia BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 895 Thanked: 1,257 Times View My Garage	Lolz! U never know, next time on, when they decide to hit a house, they may carry a laptop with wireless net for more tips on how to rob a house
	() Thanks

11th July 2007, 13:16	#3
V-16 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 4,594 Thanked: 950 Times View My Garage	This is some news. The things you can get access to via the net!! Be careful of the techie types....you have been warned.
	() Thanks

11th July 2007, 13:27	#4
SRK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,201 Thanked: 524 Times	Haha!! Thats really funny.. Google ki Jai ho!!
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 01:32	#5
Mayavi BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 682 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage	A friend of mine comitted suicide last year and the last thing he did before dying was to look up google for ways to commit suicide and used google maps to zoom in on the location which he chose to end his life. We found the laptop in his room with google maps open. He could have easily used google to find a psychiatrist or ways to get over suicide thoughts, but he didnt. Technology is a double edged sword.
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 10:58	#6
SRK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,201 Thanked: 524 Times	That is Bad...Google even helps to kill one?? True..Technology is double edged sword..and both edges are really Sharp!!
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 16:14	#7
babureddy BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 191 Thanked: 8 Times View My Garage	i think its wrong to blame google either for the robbery or the suicide. Its the same with anything, you can use your car to travel safely and also to run over a person and kill him, does that mean that its the problem of the car? this is the case with everything, its all about the way we use it.
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 19:29	#8
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	Guys, ever seen the uses to which plain, blank paper is put to? Some people pring P0rn on it. Some print test books, others print currency, yet others use it for printing publicity brochures and some of them contain seditious material, while some print magazines, and the list does not end here. Same way with the net. The net is only a TOOL. You can use the tools for constructive as well as destructive purposes. It is really is up to the user - the human being.
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 20:15	#9
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	YUP, tomorrow somebody will say cars help burglars.
	() Thanks

12th July 2007, 20:54	#10
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,294 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	It was reported that a group of thieves broke into a house in Florida. The guys had a few tools to help them do the job, but the best thing they had was a laptop. With a wireless connection tap, they were able to keep an eye on the surroundings of the house. They were in the house for 30-40 mins, and since the google updates happen every 4-5mins/at max 10 mins, they were able to make sure that no extra cars came up close to the house { which might prove to be a threat to them}. Well..thats the way things go. Everything comes at a price..
	() Thanks