Subject matter

World Wide Web

Engineering

Aerospace engineering

Social psychology

Public relations

Cartography

Computer security

Pedagogy

Computer science

Curriculum

Crime prevention

Situational ethics

Psychology

Triangulation

Geography

Political science

Criminology

Sociology

Data science

Medicine

Observational study

Subject (documents)

Situation awareness

Pathology

Key (lock)

Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

Objectives: The widespread use of camera surveillance in public places offers criminologists the opportunity to systematically and unobtrusively observe crime, their main subject matter. The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader of current developments in research on crimes caught on camera. Methods: We address the importance of direct observation of behavior and review criminological studies that used observational methods, with and without cameras, including the ones published in this issue. We also discuss the uses of camera recordings in other social sciences and in biology. Results: We formulate six key insights that emerge from the literature and make recommendations for future research. Conclusions: Camera recordings of real-life crime are likely to become part of the criminological tool kit that will help us better understand the situational and interactional elements of crime. Like any source, it has limitations that are best addressed by triangulation with other sources.

Lessons Learned from Crime Caught on Camera