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GTA IV being used to nab pedophiles photo

Cops in Michigan are currently using Grand Theft Auto IV to root out pedophiles, CVG reports. Where before, cops would scan Internet chat rooms to catch themselves some dirty perverts, forward-thinking police are now turning their attention to online games like GTA IV to capture anybody using them to groom kids.

"Child predators are migrating from traditional methods to alternate media," stated Detective Lt. Thomas Kish of the Michigan State Police. "They are going to places where children are."

Cops are playing anything from GTA to Chess online in order to nab an Uncle Reg or two. I'm actually surprised more police haven't been doing it, either. I would have thought anti-child grooming organizations would have been all over game servers by now, but apparently not. 

Either way, the cops and Destructoid have something in common  -- we can play videogames all day and call it work.


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37 comments | showing # 1 to 37

Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 07/02/2008 12:47
www.littlelacysurprisepageant.com?

Also, shouldn't most children under the age of consent not be playing GTA IV in the first place?
dtomek's Avatar
dtomek at 07/02/2008 12:50
I find it a little disturbing that you refer to child molestation as grooming. I am not sure what to make of that. :D
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 07/02/2008 12:50
If that were the case mxy cops wouldn't need to do this stuff. My boss' kid is 12 years old and plays GTA4. But its good that police are using this to catch pedophiles, any medium they can use to catch them is allright with me.
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 07/02/2008 12:51
Uh... yeah.... what Mxy said. Parents just aren't doing their jobs. I need to make a bumper sticker for that or something, my mouth hurts from repeating it.
Rifter01's Avatar
Rifter01 at 07/02/2008 12:51
I agrees with Mxy.. Also, "Either way, the cops and Destructoid have something in common -- we can play videogames all day and call it work." too funny and true. ;)
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 07/02/2008 12:54
Shouldn't kids not be playing GTA
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/02/2008 12:55
dtomek: I'm not referring to molestation when I say grooming. Grooming is quite commonly used to refer to the process of luring kids online.
Demtor's Avatar
Demtor at 07/02/2008 12:59
Cousin.... why don't you have a seat over there. Just... go ahead and take a seat.
blehman's Avatar
blehman at 07/02/2008 13:03
Shouldn't the people playing GTA be of legal age?
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 07/02/2008 13:11
Hey Chief, I'll be in the back playing Grand Theft A...I mean catching pedophiles.
catsithx's Avatar
catsithx at 07/02/2008 13:14
Man I guess this will be the next Dateline epsidoe To catch a pedophile with a GTA4 game.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 07/02/2008 13:14
So they're trying to catch the guys looking for small American teetees?
Rockvillian's Avatar
Rockvillian at 07/02/2008 13:18
MechaMonkey went there.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 07/02/2008 13:21
I would have to guess by the people using headsets on GTAIV MP, at least 10% of any given match are very obviously underage.
Rockefellow's Avatar
Rockefellow at 07/02/2008 13:22
What is this shit? We don't play GTA.

Oh, fuck.
Slick Icarus's Avatar
Slick Icarus at 07/02/2008 13:25
If you're a parent and you're letting your kid play GTA, you deserve to have them kidnapped.
Crapsh00t's Avatar
Crapsh00t at 07/02/2008 13:42
What then, though? Do they subpoena XBL/PSN for the IP address of the username, then request the address information from the ISP for that region? Seems like the closed nature of console connectivity would make that a royal pain in the ass. Perhaps they just arrange some meeting so Chris Hansen can be there.

@Rockefellow: +10

Also -
PappaDukes's Avatar
PappaDukes at 07/02/2008 14:00
@slick - bravo, you obviously aren't a parent. Did you know that underage kids will have friends who have houses that have consoles that have GTA IV because their friend's parents are irresponsible? Then your unsupervised underage kid starts playing GTA IV online with his/her friend and is lured by an online predator. So by your logic, and me being a parent, I shouldn't let my kids have friends? Or should I take it one step further and start interviewing the potential friend's parents to see if they allow their underage kids to play GTA IV?
BattyAdroit's Avatar
BattyAdroit at 07/02/2008 14:32
Yay. More police intrusion.
Gregor's Avatar
Gregor at 07/02/2008 14:37
I've had some hardcore cybers in online Chess matches.

The queen is hot. 'Nuff said.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 07/02/2008 14:54
@BattyAdroit
Yeah, they should just let the pedophiles be.
Faceless One's Avatar
Faceless One at 07/02/2008 14:54
I bet the cops are over joyed that they can play gta4 and call it working. I want to know just how many pedophiles they have actually captured with this new method.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 07/02/2008 15:15
I want to know two things:

1.) Is this effective at all?

2.) How much of my state taxes are going to pay for this crap?
Misanthrope's Avatar
Misanthrope at 07/02/2008 15:18
Tell the cops to browse 4chan or WoW servers if they wanna catch pedos instead of playing GTA4 on taxpayers money.
Lithium's Avatar
Lithium at 07/02/2008 15:34
@Misanthrope

that would probably be more effective than patrolling GTA servers thats for sure.
brosef's Avatar
brosef at 07/02/2008 15:36
your caption is hilarious. well played, jim.
ThisYearsPink's Avatar
ThisYearsPink at 07/02/2008 15:51
I just want to see it on TV. To Catch a Predator is the best show on television...except I think it's on indefinite hiatus :(
Creamsnake's Avatar
Creamsnake at 07/02/2008 16:53
The only way to catch a predator is to BECOME one. Everybody knows that.

@Gregor: Queen's knight to A3
Fiat Mediocrity's Avatar
Fiat Mediocrity at 07/02/2008 17:29
"Child predators are migrating from traditional methods to alternate media," stated Detective Lt. Thomas Kish of the Michigan State Police. "They are going to places where children are."

Those predators are getting craftier everyday...
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 07/02/2008 18:02
I love that they're using games that children shouldn't be playing anyway. Stupid parents...
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar
The Amazing Shenazin at 07/02/2008 18:07
GTA4 party van!
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 07/02/2008 19:50
That's just an excuse for cops to play GTA while on the clock.
Sam Spectre's Avatar
Sam Spectre at 07/02/2008 19:54
By the way, in America it is 17+ for GTA, not 18+

Anyways, I want that job. I could pretend to be the rapee! I'm 16, it could work.
Andrew5329's Avatar
Andrew5329 at 07/02/2008 22:19
So does that mean that cops can also fill their WoW addictions while working now? aka, "I think one of the Guys in my Kara run is a pedophile, im gonna keep tabs on him"
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar
AngelsDontBurn at 07/03/2008 03:29
Wow.. That's... Clever?
nebones's Avatar
nebones at 07/03/2008 05:28
I want to be a Cop now.
Reallynotnick's Avatar
Reallynotnick at 07/03/2008 23:22
Who the hell are paying these cops to play GTA IV?!?! These kids should not even be playing GTA IV, if they were mature enough they would not go out and meet some stranger they played online with.

You guys know there is such a thing as parenting, right?
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