Google Earth helps teens party in other people's pools

Davey Winder
Monday, 23 June 2008 03:42

Business IT - Networking

A new craze driven by Google Earth and Facebook is keeping UK police forces  busy. Teenagers are locating houses with swimming pools and arranging illegal parties known as dips.

The trouble with Google Earth is that there is just no hiding from it. The satellite images are so good that you can see all sorts of detail. Cars on the street, people playing in parks, oh and swimming pools at the rear of secluded properties.

The latest craze amongst certain teenage groups in the UK is to locate where these houses with large pools are, and then arranging a party using social networking sites such as Facebook.

According to This is London the rules of 'dipping' are quite specific. Often participants are required to come in fancy dress, and bring both beer and bicycles. The latter as a convenient method of escape should the party get crashed by the police.

The Devon and Cornwall area of England has been particularly badly impacted by dippers, with the local police force advising swimming pool owners to be on guard. "We would also warn prospective swimmers that using someone else's pool is trespassing and therefore illegal" a police spokesman said, as only a police spokesman could.

A report in The Register reveals how several pool owners have already returned home to find teens enjoying a swim and "beer cans, dog-ends and vomit floating atop their once crystal-clear pools."

Dipping is only the latest in a number of illegally held party crazes that have been fuelled by the social networking revolution. Only last month a £4 million (AUD $8 million) mansion in Marbella, Spain was totally trashed following the arrival of 400 Bebo and Facebook inspired gatecrashers to a 16th birthday party.