Internet Community Catches a Car Thief

COredneck sends us a NYTimes story (registration may be required) about an Internet community solving a crime in less than 48 hours. An auto dealer in Calgary lends a car for a test drive — a 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R. The test driver and another person don't return the car. The dealer then files a police report, but also posts a message about the stolen car on Beyond.ca, an automotive fan board. Many people who read the board keep their eyes out and find the car. They also use Facebook to find the suspect and his high school; and they use Google Maps to pinpoint the thief's location. They film the collar and post the video on Beyond.ca. The dealer says, "This guy has worldwide recognition for being a car thief for the rest of his life. The Internet is not going away."

This just in!

[kcbanner]

The internet is *not*, I repeat *not* going away! Film at 11.

Re:news to me!

[JustShootMe]

Hmm, a D: drive. Try putting in the CDROM.

Re:Good that the guy was caught...

[c_forq]

Why do you hate democracy?

Re:Poor guy

[MicktheMech]

So basically his life is ruined, even if he honestly tries to redeem myself afterwards...

So, now we know his slashdot UID too!

Re:Poor guy

[Anonymous Coward]

Only if he has something original and intelligent to say. Otherwise he will keep getting modded down to -1.

Re:Poor guy

[FornaxChemica]

Can't type. Must have early dementia. No wonder I got caught so easily.

Re:Wrong guy...

[Anonymous Coward]

Dude officer, I bought this car from my friend.

Yes... it did come with the screwdriver in the ignition, why do you ask?

If the summary sounds familiar...

[TheUni]

New Agent: All right, people, I'm in charge now and we will find the terrorists. Jarvis, I want you to check for any terrorist chatter on AOL. Marley and Greggs, try searching for nuclear devices on askjeeves.com.
Kyle: Ask Jeeves? Nobody uses Ask Jeeves! Just Google-search it!
New Agent: Are you tellin' me how to do my job?
Kyle: Yes. There's a Russian guy named Vladimir Stolfsky who's got search engine hits all over this thing.
New Agent: Chase, search the name Stolfsky on YouTube and cross-reference it with JDate!
Chase: Checking.
Stan: Look, these Russian guys all have blogs talking about this like it's just some big diversion for something much bigger!
Female Agent 2: Sir, these kids are right. We've just received intel that Russian terrorists are believed to be responsible for the threat.
New Agent: Where's the intel from?
Female Agent 2: We just read it on Drudge Report.
Kyle: Look, we already have the guy's blog. Maybe we can find an address and check it out on MapQuest.
New Agent: We do this my way! I'm the one in charge!
Kyle: [he and Stan look at each other] ...Not anymore you're not.
New Agent: Oh, snap.

Re:Poor guy

[Anonymous Coward]

And you would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids and their internets!

Re:Poor guy

[mobby_6kl]

Well, the missing fingers probably don't help, either.