GPS and Google Maps/Streetview technology have reportedly been used to find a kidnapped nine year old child. The child had reported been by her Grandmother, who had left with the child and refused to return her.

With the help and hard-work of the Massachusetts’ police, it was technology to the rescue on this one. Police used GPS information transmitted from the grandmother’s cellphone to determine the intersection the child and grandmother were at. From that point, they turned to Google Map’s Streetview feature, where they were able to disconcert a building at the location that looked to be motel Still using the service, police were able to get a list of hotels and motels in the area, and match a motel to the GPS provided coordinates.

They were then able to find the grandmother and child, who was seemingly unharmed. I think Google, along with the Massachusetts’ police, can expect a “thank-you” card to be coming in the mail shortly.