I was actually disappointed when I found out Google hadn't taken pictures of my house. If someone wants to break in they will. Having been burgled long before Google even had a mapping service I can't believe that anyone could use those photos to case someone's house.

Originally Posted By: Cris
The picture of our street are of clear enough quality to pre plan any attempt on illegal entry, spotting weak points in peoples security without ever needing to get close to the house before hand.


All I can see of your house is that there's ADT alarm, high fences with bolted gates and that there are a number of security lights, you also have a fan in your upstairs window. Armed with that knowledge I doubt your house has made it onto anyone's 'must burgle' list.

Originally Posted By: Cris
I'll try putting my point another way, as you all seem to have missed it. If you came home and saw someone peering through your front window from the path, what would you do? I for one would go and enquire what they were doing and could I help them with something. Google has removed that opportunity for me to do that, weighting the intrusion of privacy.


If I saw someone peering into my living room window I think I would ask them what they were doing. However, if I saw someone taking a photo of my street I wouldn't do anything. In fact, my house appeared in a photo on an estate agent's website when they were trying to rent the property next door. Did I think it's an invasion of my privacy? No. Did I asked them to remove the picture? No.

We had a photographer at work a while ago taking photos of the office and staff for the GMG annual report. One of my engineers asked in front of the whole office to have any photos that included himself removed, this request was declined and he was branded a paranoid wierdo (in addition to various other things) by his work colleagues.
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Cheers,

Andy M