August 26, 2010, 1:39 PM — More than a third of Brits (34%) have attempted to take a sneak peek at where their favourite celebrity lives by 'stalking' them on Google's Street View.
Street View is an add-on to Google Maps and Google Earth that allows users to see street-level photographs of a number of cities across the world.
Research by double glazing firm Central Scotland Joinery revealed the White House, home of US President Barack Obama, is the most searched property on Google Street View, with 19% of Brits admitting they want to take a sneak peek around the Presidential residence.
Hugh Hefner's home in Los Angeles came second with 17% of web users admitting to searching for the Playboy Mansion on the Google Maps add-on. Nearly a quarter of those that admitting to looking at Hefner's LA residence on Street View, said it was because they wanted to catch a glimpse of a Playboy Bunny.
The home of Apple boss Steve Jobs was the third-most searched for property on Google Street View. Jobs beat Microsoft boss Bill Gates, whose house was the sixth most search-for property.
Celebrity couples David and Victoria Beckham, Jay-Z and Beyonce, and Katie Price and Alex Reid also appeared in the list of the ten most searched-for homes on Google Street View.
Furthermore, 16% of Google Street View users said they had searched for an ex-partner's house while nearly half (47%) said they'd looked for their childhood home.
"I wasn't too surprised to discover that 19% of the people we asked have had a nose at the White House, it is beautiful building," said Jamie Haston, managing director of Central Scotland Joinery.
"However I don't encourage people 'stalking' celebrities via Google. No one wants to end up in court after all!"
See also: 16 Google Street View disasters
