A pair of suspected car burglars at an Atlanta parking structure were stopped thanks to a futuristic security detail made up of robot dogs. Atlanta News First reports that the robotic canines assisted officers in cornering and detaining two men accused of entering vehicles and removing items from inside. This marks a novel way to reduce criminal activity.

Security footage from Thursday, May 21, captured two masked individuals entering the Columbia Crest Apartments parking garage. They proceeded from vehicle to vehicle, testing doors for access and searching through any unlocked cars they encountered. Normally this would prompt a human guard to alert authorities or intervene directly.

Here the garage is overseen by Undaunted, a firm that deploys four-legged robots in place of human security staff. After detecting the unusual behavior, two robot dogs were sent out. One followed the masked men while the second communicated with police via two-way audio, providing descriptions and locations. Officers caught one suspect on the street near the garage exit, while the second attempted to hide near a trash compactor. The robot held the individual in place until police arrived to make the arrest.

Robots remain unarmed per company policy

Although Undaunted robots may evoke images from science fiction films, their functions stay restricted. Following guidance from Boston Dynamics, the machines carry no weapons.

Undaunted CEO Bryan Dinner explained to Atlanta News First that the company will never equip its robots with offensive armaments. Rather than featuring advanced speech or independent action, the devices serve as mobile cameras and communication tools that can reach areas fixed cameras miss. A human operator handles dialogue with police, and it remains unclear if the robots move on their own.

While swapping human guards for robots might appear unnecessary, some individuals ignore traditional security personnel. Encountering a robot dog can create enough surprise to halt suspicious actions. All activity is recorded and can be shared with police as evidence. Most importantly, no human is placed at risk, which proves valuable in challenging neighborhoods.