Google Earth helps cops nab suspected marijuana grower

Oregon police have gotten savvy to some satellite surveillance technology: Google Earth.

That's right, the authorities in the southern corner of that state used Google Earth to nab a man suspected of growing more than his fair share of medical marijuana, according to the Grants Pass Daily Courier. Apparently, the police caught word that Curtis Croft had been bragging about the prodigious weed crops he had been cultivating on his property. Checking out Google Earth, the police saw what looked to be satellite images of rows and rows of plants. It's impossible to say just how many law enforcement agencies are actively using Google Earth, but one thing is certain: looking at Google's often detailed images is a lot cheaper than flying helicopters or planes, particularly in remote areas. But, there is one downside for police -- the images seen on Google Earth aren't live; they could be weeks, months, or even years old.