Social Impacts

Camera phones-Is this a crime-solving tool?

Yes,Read the following reports and understand how does your cellphone turned as crime stopper tool.Cellphones that take pictures are one of the newest ways to fight crime as snapshots can help police nab criminals.

A victim whose life is in danger will probably not have the wits to snap a picture, he said. But when they are used during less serious crimes, camera phones could benefit police investigations”.

1. On July 22, 2008

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File under not so smart. A fraudster has been jailed for five years after a photo – taken with a camera phone – of his baby surrounded by piles of money was used by police as evidence against him. The BBC reports.

The scam targeted cash machines outside supermarkets including ones in Beverley and Willerby in East Yorkshire.
“… The accused claimed the picture of his baby son surrounded by money was part of a Romanian tradition celebrating the christening of his child.
But the jury dismissed his claims and he was found guilty of conspiracy to clone bank cards. “

2.On December 8, 2007

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The spread of cellphone cameras is providing new ammunition in police investigations as criminals capture their own guilt in photos. The Wall Street Journal reports.

“Last year, Morgan Kipper was booked on charges of stealing cars and reselling their parts. He declared his innocence, but his cellphone suggested otherwise: Its screensaver pictured Mr. Kipper behind the wheel of a stolen yellow Ferrari.

Mr. Kipper, 27, joined a growing group of camera-phone owners who can’t seem to resist capturing themselves breaking the law. “As a criminal defense attorney, it’s very difficult when a client proclaims his innocence but incriminates himself by taking photos of the stolen items,” says William Korman, the Boston attorney who represented Mr. Kipper.

3.On October 27, 2006

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Not so clever thief tags film “robbery” on Youtube and ends up in jail

The Times Online reports on cameraphone footage showing a robbery taking place which led to the arrest of the culprits, after they posted it on YouTube using the keyword “robbery”. Not so clever.

“… The 19 seconds of film, captured on a mobile phone and showing the robber, his friends, the theft and the escape, provided police with all the evidence they would ever need.

… In the film he is shown reaching out and snatching the bemused woman’s glasses before sprinting off down the pedestrianised street. The final shot shows one of the group still filming with a smile on his face as those around him guffaw with laughter”.

(Courtesy: picturephonening.com)