Case the joint
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Crime Planning
Used when describing the preparation phase of an illegal activity. 
They decided to case the joint at midnight to avoid suspicion.
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Slang
It's slang, so it's more common in casual conversation than in formal writing. 
In the movie, the old-time gangster said, 'We gotta case the joint first.'
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Depiction
Commonly used in movies or books involving gangsters or heists. 
The novel described how the mastermind instructed his crew to case the joint before the big score.