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Thieves Use Google Earth to Steal Solar Panels

Posted By Jake Easton on January 08, 2010

Solar panel thefts heating up in Napa Valley wine country
Solar Panel Thefts at Napa Valley Wineries

Hot on the heels of news about Google's new energy venture comes this sorrowful tale about renewable energy. NPR reports on enterprising thieves who used Google Earth to find California wineries with solar panels for the taking.

Many thieves have reportedly used trucks to simply crash winery gates and steal up to 70 panels at a time. Local sheriff deputies speculate that online tools such as Google Earth might make it particularly easy to locate possible targets - more than 400 panels worth over $1,000 each were stolen from Napa Valley vineyards in 2009.

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