Smart doorbells: they’re not just for package thieves anymore. This Thursday on BBC One, Doorbell Detectives returns with a look at how tiny cameras are reinventing neighborhood watch—and solving some serious crimes along the way. Episode 4, airing at 2 PM, features Matt Allwright meeting the people who’ve used their doorbell footage to catch everything from cat burglars to masked gangs.
Yes, pet cameras get in on the action too, capturing one furry intruder in flagrante delicto. But the focus is mainly on how this now-ubiquitous tech is changing the face of criminal investigation. Former police inspector Anton Sullivan returns to break down robber tactics and provide viewers with tips on how to make themselves less of a target. And in a twist straight out of a heist thriller, we see how a thief’s attempt to cover his tracks by stealing the doorbell itself becomes his undoing.
Doorbell Detectives hits the sweet spot for true crime fans who also have a thing for gadgets. This latest episode gives us a look at crimes both petty and major—all captured through the lens of doorbell cameras. The technology is turning average citizens into amateur sleuths.