Thief may have been caught on Google

Derbyshire Police said the caravan's owner believed the Google Streetview image may have been taken shortly before the vehicle was taken from outside his home.

The snapshot shows an unknown man standing beside a 4x4 vehicle parked on the victim's drive in Linton, South Derbyshire, just yards away from the caravan.

Unfortunately for police, when the homeowner spotted the startling image in March this year, the 4x4's registration plate had been obscured.

The white Abbey Adventura caravan was stolen from Cauldwell Road, Linton, on 5 June last year.

PC Adrian Mason said: "It is amazing that we have such a clear image of a man who we think will be able to give us information that would help the police inquiry.

"It was an amazing coincidence that the Google Earth car was passing at that time."