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They videotaped themselves street racing and then posted clips on YouTube, the hugely popular video-sharing website. Entitled "Racing a Turbo Civic," the video came complete with credits and was viewed by thousands of people.

Among those who watched it were Winnipeg police officers, who recognized their city's streets and launched an investigation. Two teenagers, 18 and 19, were recently arrested and face several charges.

"It's just blatant disregard. You know, this isn't Hollywood. This is real life and people could have been killed," said Constable Jacqueline Chaput, a Winnipeg police spokeswoman.

YouTube is increasingly serving as an Internet super-sleuth as its helps police around the world nab dim-witted criminals who videotape themselves breaking the law and then upload the evidence.

Police in Norway recently fined a man who posted a video of his wild driving on YouTube. Last month, an Indiana man was arrested on burglary and theft charges after a police officer saw a clip of a robbery on YouTube. The recording was made by a hidden camera in the home that was robbed.

In what is believed to be a Canadian first, police in Hamilton are using the website to find people. Earlier this month, a police officer posted a surveillance video clip in an effort to identify persons of interest in a homicide case.

In addition, people also use YouTube to publicize alleged police misconduct, caught surreptitiously with video cameras or video cellphones. Philadelphia police recently launched an investigation after seeing a video of a marked police cruiser participating in a street drag race with another car.

In the Winnipeg case, police were alerted to the homemade video in early August by a local newspaper. The video, which is about five minutes long, shows two separate street races through a neighbourhood near the city's downtown. It was posted on youtube.com on June 22. Constable Chaput said the races took place a few days earlier.

"We were familiar with the area and there was actually a lot of talk on the video by the people involved. So there were a number of factors that indicated to us that it was Winnipeg," she said.

In addition, the video further helped officers: It came complete with credits.

The teens, whose names police haven't released, face charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, racing with another motor vehicle, driving carelessly and driving imprudently. They are to appear in court next month.

The video has since been removed from YouTube.