FreshNetworks Blog

There was a great article in the New York Times over the weekend about how a car thief was caught thanks to social networking online (see article here).

The story starts in Calgary, Canada at Shaun Ironside’s dealership. It’s a busy Saturday and when a man Ironside recognises comes in and wants to test drive a car he just hands him the keys, safe in the knowledge that there is practically no fuel in the tank and he couldn’t get far. But the car doesn’t come back, it didn’t return for the whole day.

That evening Ironside posts on beyonda.ca, a Canadian online community for car enthusiasts, with the following:

10:28 p.m., March 26 Unfortunately I have to post this as one of my first posts my 1991 Skyline GT-R is officially STOLEN.

The post included photos and descriptions of the car (quite a unique Japanese import), and Ironside offered a cash reward for return of the car. Results came in quickly. The next day a forum moderator (JAYMEZ) saw the car when he was driving through Calgary. The first Ironside found out was when he checked the thread later in the day to see a post at the bottom:

4:19 p.m., MARCH 27 I FOUUUNNNDDDDD THEM =) And I have pictures Called the police and chased them, also talked to them.

A few moments later the photo (with the driver looking straight at the camera) appeared on the thread. The police were informed and the car returned – according to them the photo and evidence of the car’s movement, as recorded on the site, was “as solid evidence as you’ll ever find”.

If you want to read the full thread from beyond.ca, see here.