Mediaboss Marketing

By Trevor Mogg

File photo.(REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)

When you consider Facebook has 1.35 billion monthly users, with a good many of those active in the U.S., perhaps it shouldnt come as a surprise that cops see the social networking service as a useful tool in the fight against crime.

Take recent events in L.A., for example, where a cop on desk duty hit the jackpot after searching on Facebook for one of the citys most wanted fugitives an alleged murderer who went on the run more than 10 years ago.

Related:In the online hunt for criminals, social media is the ultimate snitch

Eduardo Rodriguez, who stands accused of four homicides and two attempted homicides linked to street gang activity, was spotted by the eagle-eyed cop in photos posted on the social networking site by the fugitives family and friends.

Not surprisingly, Rodriguez had changed his identity, but the copwas pretty sure he had his man. A surveillance team was sent out to watch the premises identified in one of the photos, and sure enough, Rodriguez eventually appeared. Late last week, the suspect was arrested.

Related:Man shares his own wanted picture on Facebook, arrested shortly after

According to the L.A. Times, 35-year-old Rodriguez was picked up in Riverside, about 60 miles east of L.A., where he was living with a woman he was soon to marry. His fiance reportedly had no idea of his alleged criminal past, with neighbors also oblivious to the fact.

Its thought Rodriguez fled to Mexico in 2003 before returning to California around four years ago.

The rest is here:
Fugitive caught on Facebook