I’ve recently been enjoying a new show, It Takes a Thief, on The Discovery Channel. And, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what channel it was on until I Googled for it — when I first heard about the show from a network spot while I was watching another show on my TiVo, I paused the show, added It Takes a Thief as a Season Pass and resumed watching the first show. And, since then, I’ve just been watching the series as recordings appeared on my TiVo.
Anyway, the basic premise is this: the show stars two former ex-burglars, Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey. Each episode, they scout out a house in the tri-state area which looks like it might have poor security. Then, Matt knocks on their door, explains that he's part of a tv show, and asks the homeowners if they would allow his ex-burglar parter to rob their house in exchange for a security revamp.
Sounds simple enough, right? Jon only gets 10 minutes to break in, “rob” the house and make out with the loot. Of course, it’s all pretend and the homeowners aren't really losing their stuff. After the robbery, the crew helps sweep, organize and generally clean up any messes. And, the homeowner’s house gets a full security update after that — new window or door locks, motion-sensors on any expensive paintings, thorny bushes planted below any tempting windows and the like.
“So, how bad could it be? Only 10 minutes? Ok, sure”, so says the homeowners.
You may already see where this is going, but the show may as well have been called The Schadenfreude Robbery Show. Here’s how it generally plays out, after the homeowners agree to the premise:
- While Matt is talking with the homeowners (and getting a tour of their house and its security measures), Jon waits outside so as to give Jon no additional advantage (not that he needs any help, hehe).
- A video production van is parked on the street outside the house to which wireless video cameras which are setup throughout the house send live video from the house.
- The homeowners are instructed to completely lock their house and then meet host Matt in the van.
- Once everyone is inside the van and the video monitors are cued up, Matt confirms with the homeowners that they're ready to go through with it.
- After confirmation, Matt calls Jon’s cell phone and gives him the go-ahead. The clock starts and the homeowners view the break-in as it happens.
- In the first minute or two, Jon tries the obvious entry points such as the front or side doors (in case they’re actually unlocked).
- Shortly thereafter, Jon gets in and robs the place as if he were really robbing the place. Bookcases are cleared in a search for hidden trinkets. Cookie jars are smashed on the tile kitchen floor, just in case money is hidden inside. Mattresses are overturned on the chance that valuables may be hidden between the mattresses or under the bed.
Of course, the homeowners are horrified, not only at how easily Jon got in but of the complete destruction of their house. Surely they must have been made aware of what could happen, but they probably didn’t realize just how much damage a burglar can do in ten minutes. Generally horrified, they then walk back in their house and view the carnage. Matt consoles the homeowners as, even though it was a fake robbery, it’s still fairly traumatic for them.
A little while later, they get all their stuff back and begin to put their house back in order. And, in the days following, they get the security updates to their home. I wasn’t sure what to make of the show when I first saw the teaser for it (and set the Season Pass) as the spot was fairly vague, along the lines of “See what happens when a burglar is allowed to break into a home” However, I’m really enjoying the show and I think it comes down to two aspects of the show.
Firstly, I find the burglar’s entrance fascinating, as he tests the house’s weak points and manages his way in. And then there’s the denouement of the episode where Matt works with the contractors to close all the security loop holes which a burglar might use to get in to the house. And I’ve learned a few things that I’ll probably put to use whenever I buy a house (for instance, they recommend snipping the garage door opener release cords as a burglar could break a garage door window and then yank on that cord to release the garage door).