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It Takes a Thief (2005 TV series)
Encyclopedia
It Takes a Thief is an American reality television series that originally aired on the Discovery Channel
from February 2, 2005 to April 13, 2007. The program stars and is hosted by Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, two former thieves
who use their unique expertise to teach people in an unusual way to protect their properties.
With the owners' permission, the hosts stage a full-fledged burglary
as their victims watch on closed-circuit television
(CCTV), either live during the break-in (for season 1) or in real time with pre-recorded video playback (for season 2). Rainey assumes the burglar role and plans and executes the break-ins while Johnston acts as mentor to the security-challenged owners. Immediately following the burglary, Johnston and Rainey meet with the residents to return their stolen goods and explain to them what they have been doing wrong. Johnston then organizes a complete security
makeover and provides additional safety tips. Weeks later, Johnston and Rainey return and attempt another break-in to test whether the homeowners are using their new security system properly. Although most thefts on the show occur in suburban homes, businesses, college houses
, and even a police station have also been burglarized.
has not produced a third season.
On the Discovery Civilization Channel
, rerun
s air on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 AM E/P, Mondays at 6 PM E/P, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12 PM E/P.
On the Discovery Channel, reruns began to air on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, after the last rerun aired the year before (in September 2008). Until November 9, 2009, a marathon of six reruns aired on Mondays.
It Takes A Thief airs in Canada on Investigation Discovery (Canada). Monday-Friday at 7am.
states:
In the introduction, the title sequence
states:
After the title sequence in the introduction of the Season-1 episodes, host and narrator Matt Johnston explains:
Before the title sequence in the introduction of the Season-2 episodes, host and narrator Matt Johnston explains:
The format of each episode of the series consists of several parts, stages, or phases. The first and second seasons differ from each other in format.
Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey survey a neighborhood for a suitable house to burglarize. Homes that appear to have security weaknesses or security-lax owners are targeted. Rainey, who does the actual break-ins, looks for unlocked doors and windows, (the lack of) alarm systems
, and any available tools or ladders that can be used to gain entry. He also determines how visible the house is from the street or to the neighbors.
After selecting a house, Rainey leaves to plan the burglary while Johnston meets with the owners to obtain their permission, offering a free security renovation following the break-in. Johnston tours the home to identify unsecured entry points, inventory valuables, and determine what (if any) security measures the homeowners use. None of this information is relayed to Rainey, and Johnston is unaware just how the actual break-in will be executed.
Cameras are installed throughout the house, and the family then locks up as normal when leaving. They then join Johnston in a nearby van to watch the live break-in on TV monitors. Johnston also provides commentary as the burglary is happening.
Rainey treats each break-in as a real heist, ransacking rooms while identifying the most valuable items as quickly as possible, and searching in what many consider secure hiding places. Cars are often taken as well, assuming Rainey can locate the keys. Occasionally, Rainey uses accomplice
s, and nearly every break-in employs a different strategy. The entire burglary usually take less than 15 minutes, resulting in property loss that can total thousands of dollars. Not all break-ins are successful; police have "apprehended" Rainey on several occasions, although he was immediately released. The producers notify local authorities about the show beforehand.
Once the burglary is over, Johnston takes the owners back into the house to survey the aftermath firsthand. They then meet Rainey—an often emotional encounter. The stolen goods are then returned, and Rainey explains why he chose the items and gives an estimated resale value. Many are stolen because they can quickly be fenced
, but others, such as credit card
s, passport
s, birth certificate
s, etc., can have a long-lasting financial impact on victims through identity theft
. Treasured items, like heirlooms, antiques, or collectibles, are irreplaceable, while knives, handgun
s, and law enforcement uniforms are dangerous in a criminal's hands. The day ends with a cleaning crew putting the house back in order and a security guard
posted outside overnight.
The next day, Johnston oversees a complete security makeover. Rainey is again absent during this period. Improvements may include surveillance
equipment, new locks, alarm systems, new doors and windows (often with shatter-proof laminates applied to the glass), safes, lock boxes, and thief-deterrent landscaping (such as thorny bushes), along with advice on improving security-conscious habits. Johnston warns the homeowners that he and Rainey will return to test how well they are maintaining their new security system.
Several weeks later, Rainey and Johnston reappear when the house is vacant to check whether the new security measures and the homeowner's vigilance prevent Rainey from breaking in again. They then wait for the owners to return and give them an evaluation of how well they employed the new devices.
The second season's revamped format makes the show's break-ins seem more realistic, surprising, and suspenseful. The producers, rather than Johnston, now make the initial contact with the owners. They are warned that the burglary could happen unannounced at any time and are told to continue with their normal routines, as opposed to watching the burglary live on closed-circuit television
(CCTV).
Rainey now monitors the residence, learns the homeowners' routines, and (usually) waits for the house to be vacant. When he feels it is time to strike, he calls Johnston and proceeds with the break-in. As Rainey burglarizes the residence (knowing that the homeowners could return at any time), Johnston alone watches the heist unfold live on the CCTV monitors while giving commentary. When the homeowners return, Johnston arrives at the scene of the crime, talks to the victims, and tours the residence with them to survey the aftermath. He then shows them the footage of how the break-in unfolded.
From this point, the show continues as before, with Rainey returning the family's possessions, a team of experts installing security measures, and Johnston and Rainey returning in a few weeks to test those measures.
. He currently resides in California
, although he has lived in Austin, Texas
, Weatherford, Oklahoma, and New York City. During his youth, Johnston burglarized homes, but after being arrested and sentenced to paying restitution, he turned his life around. Johnston has since worked as a teacher and is now an actor, writer, and filmmaker, founding his own production company, Trigger Entertainment, to develop independent film
projects. Johnston stated, "If I really had a criminal background, I wouldn't be able to work with children. I mean to even work on the Discovery Channel show, there were extensive background checks. To paraphrase Twain, the rumors of my thievery are greatly exaggerated." In addition to hosting It Takes a Thief, he has TV and movie roles to his credit, including Cowboy Smoke, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival
, and an appearance on Friday Night Lights
. Johnston also directed several It Takes A Thief episodes during the second season. He has been in pre-production for a movie titled Pain and was recently working on a documentary titled Roundball, among other film projects.
. He currently resides in New Jersey
, although he has lived in New York City and Tennessee
. He currently works at Shapes to Come as the manager of daily gym operations. He is the father of one daughter. As a youth, he committed burglaries, including a police station
. Rainey even stole Chevrolet Corvette
s from a Miss America
pageant. After several arrests and realizing his behavior was self-destructive, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He later worked as a private investigator
, personal trainer, and manager of a rock band. Rainey is also an actor. Among his credits are guest appearances on Sex and the City
and All My Children
, and roles in Mystery of the Bloody Mansion (2007) and the Willie Nelson
movie Shoot Out of Luck.
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
from February 2, 2005 to April 13, 2007. The program stars and is hosted by Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, two former thieves
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
who use their unique expertise to teach people in an unusual way to protect their properties.
With the owners' permission, the hosts stage a full-fledged burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
as their victims watch on closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
(CCTV), either live during the break-in (for season 1) or in real time with pre-recorded video playback (for season 2). Rainey assumes the burglar role and plans and executes the break-ins while Johnston acts as mentor to the security-challenged owners. Immediately following the burglary, Johnston and Rainey meet with the residents to return their stolen goods and explain to them what they have been doing wrong. Johnston then organizes a complete security
Physical security
Physical security describes measures that are designed to deny access to unauthorized personnel from physically accessing a building, facility, resource, or stored information; and guidance on how to design structures to resist potentially hostile acts...
makeover and provides additional safety tips. Weeks later, Johnston and Rainey return and attempt another break-in to test whether the homeowners are using their new security system properly. Although most thefts on the show occur in suburban homes, businesses, college houses
Fraternity and sorority houses
North American fraternity and sorority housing refers largely to the houses or housing areas that fraternity and sorority members live and work together in...
, and even a police station have also been burglarized.
Status
The last episode of It Takes a Thief premiered on April 13, 2007. The Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
has not produced a third season.
On the Discovery Civilization Channel
Discovery Civilization Channel
Discovery Science is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by CTV Speciality Television Inc. in partnership with Discovery Communications airing science-related programming.-History:...
, rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s air on Saturdays and Sundays at 8 AM E/P, Mondays at 6 PM E/P, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12 PM E/P.
On the Discovery Channel, reruns began to air on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, after the last rerun aired the year before (in September 2008). Until November 9, 2009, a marathon of six reruns aired on Mondays.
It Takes A Thief airs in Canada on Investigation Discovery (Canada). Monday-Friday at 7am.
Format
Shown in the beginning of the program, the disclaimerDisclaimer
A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally recognized relationship...
states:
In the introduction, the title sequence
Title sequence
A Title Sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television programs present their title, key production and cast members, or both, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound...
states:
After the title sequence in the introduction of the Season-1 episodes, host and narrator Matt Johnston explains:
Before the title sequence in the introduction of the Season-2 episodes, host and narrator Matt Johnston explains:
The format of each episode of the series consists of several parts, stages, or phases. The first and second seasons differ from each other in format.
Season 1 (2005)
The first season of It Takes a Thief consisted of 40 episodes and originally aired from February 2, 2005 to December 5, 2005.Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey survey a neighborhood for a suitable house to burglarize. Homes that appear to have security weaknesses or security-lax owners are targeted. Rainey, who does the actual break-ins, looks for unlocked doors and windows, (the lack of) alarm systems
Burglar alarm
Burglar , alarms are systems designed to detect unauthorized entry into a building or area. They consist of an array of sensors, a control panel and alerting system, and interconnections...
, and any available tools or ladders that can be used to gain entry. He also determines how visible the house is from the street or to the neighbors.
After selecting a house, Rainey leaves to plan the burglary while Johnston meets with the owners to obtain their permission, offering a free security renovation following the break-in. Johnston tours the home to identify unsecured entry points, inventory valuables, and determine what (if any) security measures the homeowners use. None of this information is relayed to Rainey, and Johnston is unaware just how the actual break-in will be executed.
Cameras are installed throughout the house, and the family then locks up as normal when leaving. They then join Johnston in a nearby van to watch the live break-in on TV monitors. Johnston also provides commentary as the burglary is happening.
Rainey treats each break-in as a real heist, ransacking rooms while identifying the most valuable items as quickly as possible, and searching in what many consider secure hiding places. Cars are often taken as well, assuming Rainey can locate the keys. Occasionally, Rainey uses accomplice
Accomplice
At law, an accomplice is a person who actively participates in the commission of a crime, even though they take no part in the actual criminal offense. For example, in a bank robbery, the person who points the gun at the teller and asks for the money is guilty of armed robbery...
s, and nearly every break-in employs a different strategy. The entire burglary usually take less than 15 minutes, resulting in property loss that can total thousands of dollars. Not all break-ins are successful; police have "apprehended" Rainey on several occasions, although he was immediately released. The producers notify local authorities about the show beforehand.
Once the burglary is over, Johnston takes the owners back into the house to survey the aftermath firsthand. They then meet Rainey—an often emotional encounter. The stolen goods are then returned, and Rainey explains why he chose the items and gives an estimated resale value. Many are stolen because they can quickly be fenced
Fence (criminal)
A fence is an individual who knowingly buys stolen property for later resale, sometimes in a legitimate market. The fence thus acts as a middleman between thieves and the eventual buyers of stolen goods who may or may not be aware that the goods are stolen. As a verb, the word describes the...
, but others, such as credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
s, passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
s, birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
s, etc., can have a long-lasting financial impact on victims through identity theft
Identity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
. Treasured items, like heirlooms, antiques, or collectibles, are irreplaceable, while knives, handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
s, and law enforcement uniforms are dangerous in a criminal's hands. The day ends with a cleaning crew putting the house back in order and a security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
posted outside overnight.
The next day, Johnston oversees a complete security makeover. Rainey is again absent during this period. Improvements may include surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
equipment, new locks, alarm systems, new doors and windows (often with shatter-proof laminates applied to the glass), safes, lock boxes, and thief-deterrent landscaping (such as thorny bushes), along with advice on improving security-conscious habits. Johnston warns the homeowners that he and Rainey will return to test how well they are maintaining their new security system.
Several weeks later, Rainey and Johnston reappear when the house is vacant to check whether the new security measures and the homeowner's vigilance prevent Rainey from breaking in again. They then wait for the owners to return and give them an evaluation of how well they employed the new devices.
Season 2 (2006–2007)
The second season of It Takes a Thief also consisted of 40 episodes and originally aired from October 16, 2006 to April 13, 2007.The second season's revamped format makes the show's break-ins seem more realistic, surprising, and suspenseful. The producers, rather than Johnston, now make the initial contact with the owners. They are warned that the burglary could happen unannounced at any time and are told to continue with their normal routines, as opposed to watching the burglary live on closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
(CCTV).
Rainey now monitors the residence, learns the homeowners' routines, and (usually) waits for the house to be vacant. When he feels it is time to strike, he calls Johnston and proceeds with the break-in. As Rainey burglarizes the residence (knowing that the homeowners could return at any time), Johnston alone watches the heist unfold live on the CCTV monitors while giving commentary. When the homeowners return, Johnston arrives at the scene of the crime, talks to the victims, and tours the residence with them to survey the aftermath. He then shows them the footage of how the break-in unfolded.
From this point, the show continues as before, with Rainey returning the family's possessions, a team of experts installing security measures, and Johnston and Rainey returning in a few weeks to test those measures.
The presenters
Matt Johnston
Matthew T. Johnston was born on December 6, 1976 in Odessa, TexasOdessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
. He currently resides in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, although he has lived in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Weatherford, Oklahoma, and New York City. During his youth, Johnston burglarized homes, but after being arrested and sentenced to paying restitution, he turned his life around. Johnston has since worked as a teacher and is now an actor, writer, and filmmaker, founding his own production company, Trigger Entertainment, to develop independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
projects. Johnston stated, "If I really had a criminal background, I wouldn't be able to work with children. I mean to even work on the Discovery Channel show, there were extensive background checks. To paraphrase Twain, the rumors of my thievery are greatly exaggerated." In addition to hosting It Takes a Thief, he has TV and movie roles to his credit, including Cowboy Smoke, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, and an appearance on Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. Johnston also directed several It Takes A Thief episodes during the second season. He has been in pre-production for a movie titled Pain and was recently working on a documentary titled Roundball, among other film projects.
Jon Douglas Rainey
Jon Douglas Rainey was born on January 27, 1970 in Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. He currently resides in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, although he has lived in New York City and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He currently works at Shapes to Come as the manager of daily gym operations. He is the father of one daughter. As a youth, he committed burglaries, including a police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
. Rainey even stole Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
s from a Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant. After several arrests and realizing his behavior was self-destructive, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard. He later worked as a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, personal trainer, and manager of a rock band. Rainey is also an actor. Among his credits are guest appearances on Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
and All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
, and roles in Mystery of the Bloody Mansion (2007) and the Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
movie Shoot Out of Luck.