Fears raised over thieves using Google to scope out farms

Farmers are being advised to check their yards and buildings on Google Street View and request images are blurred if they think the mapping technology could give rural thieves an easy way to case the farm.

In a recent incident, a farmer’s yard and buildings were burgled and the police advised it was likely the thieves knew exactly what tools to bring and what they were going to take.

While not a conclusive link in this case, it later transpired that images of the farmyard and buildings were shown on Street View.