case the joint
to look around a place that you intend to steal from in order to find out information

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

case the joint
v. phr., slang
1. To study the layout of a place one wishes to burglarize.
The hooded criminals carefully cased the joint before robbing the neighborhood bank.
2. To familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot as a matter of preliminary planning.
"Hello Fred," he said. "Are you working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am merely casing the joint."

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲