History Main / GottaHaveItGonnaStealIt

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Katara becomes enthralled with a Water Bending scroll she discovers pirates are selling. So she steals it. Despite the ensuing chaos this decision causes, it's okay because [[SpoofAesop stealing is wrong...unless it's from pirates]].

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Marge Be Not Proud", focuses on Bart getting caught while trying to steal a copy of ultra-violent videogame ''Bonestorm'', and how this changes Marge's relationship with him.
-->''"Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching someone in the dark."''
-->-Nelson Muntz

* A VerySpecialEpisode of ''Series/FamilyMatters'', Season 6's "The Gun", detailed Laura having her expensive leather jacket stolen by gang members, upon which they are arrested for their crime, but let out on bail, delivering her the threat of shooting her if she testifies at their trial. Later, Laura, Steve and Maxine's friend, Josie, gets a pair of super cool high-top sneakers that are all the rage among teenagers. Then she gets ''[[DarkerAndEdgier shot]]'' by those gang members when they try to steal the shoes despite being armed herself.

* A VerySpecialEpisode of ''Series/FamilyMatters'', Season 6's "The Gun", detailed Laura having her expensive leather jacket stolen by gang members, upon which they are arrested for their crime, but let out on bail, delivering her the threat of shooting her if she testifies at their trial. Later, Laura, Steve and Maxine's friend, Josie, gets a pair of super cool high-top sneakers that are all the rage among teenagers. Then she gets ''[[DarkerAndEdgier shot]]'' by those gang members when they try to steal the shoes.

* A VerySpecialEpisode of ''Series/FamilyMatters'', Season 6's "The Gun", detailed Laura having her expensive leather jacket stolen by gang members, upon which they are arrested for their crime, but let out on bail, delivering her the threat of shooting her if she testifies at her trial. Later, Laura, Steve and Maxine's friend, Josie, gets a pair of super cool high-top sneakers that are all the rage among teenagers. Then she gets ''[[DarkerAndEdgier shot]]'' by those gang members when they try to steal the shoes.

* Charlene from ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' does this under the [[ToxicFriendInfluence influence of an expensive talking coat]] she bought. The coat (voiced by Creator/TimCurry) convinced Charlene to steal her father's credit card so she could shop at expensive stores. Charlene does this against her better judgement but ends up getting found out and ultimately punished.

* The 1989 children's book ''Arnie and the Stolen Marker'' by Nancy Carlson has the title character wanting a brand new set of markers in a store. However, he has already spent his allowance and can't afford them. Arnie gives in and steals the markers - but gets found out by his mother and has to confess his crime to the shopkeeper. He eventually has to [[WorkOffTheDebt work for the store as he opened up the markers]].

* Double Subverted with the ''Series/{{Ghostwriter}}'' second season story arc "Am I Blue?" - Subverted initially when Gaby Fernandez wants a [[ShowWithinAShow Galaxy Girl]] costume bad - but rather than steal it directly, she decides to steal money out of her family bodega's cash register to pay for it. Subverted again when she planned to return the money she took by trying to get a refund for her Galaxy Girl costume. Gaby is unable to do this because she bought the costume on sale. She is eventually caught and punished.

* The first ''VideoGame/MarioVsDonkeyKong'' game takes the trope a step further -- the Mini-Mario toys that DK wanted so badly sell out, so DK decides to ''break into the factory producing the toys''. At the very end, Mario decides to let DK have a toy anyway.

* {{Inverted}} in a Father's Day episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'', in which Professor Utonium very much wants a set of fancy, yet incredibly expensive golf clubs, but can't afford them. After Mojo Jojo has damaged a great deal of Townsville in a fit of rage, Blossom finds the clubs unattended, and is tempted to get them for the Professor for Father's Day - this unfortunately causes problems when the clubs are reported missing, and Professor is arrested since the clubs are found in his possession. Not wanting to get in trouble herself, Blossom tries to blame Mojo for selling the clubs to her, until pressure from others causes her to crack and admit she stole them because Professor wanted them so badly, and she wanted to make him happy.

Everyone else has the [[CoolToy hottest toy of the year]], the latest trendy fashion, or some other MacGuffin. A character wants the Macguffin badly, but is unable to obtain it as he has no money, [[BecauseISaidSo his parents say no]], or is otherwise inaccessible. So what does the character do? He usually just gives in and steals the [=MacGuffin=].

Usually, the character eventually [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin gets caught in the end]] and suffers the consequences of their actions. This functions as AnAesop about why you should never give in to stealing, let alone wrongdoing, no matter how tempting it might be. Don't expect any sympathy or exoneration if you try to argue that [[FreudianExcuse you just had to have the Macguffin or how everyone else has one]]; it won't work. May overlap with TrendAesop.

* ''Literature/{{Rapunzel}}'' has the mother of the title character wanting special herbs so bad that she sends her husband to steal them. He gets caught by the witch who owns the herbs; in return for the plants, the witch eventually claims their daughter when born.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_computer_that_said_steal_me.jpg]]

* In ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'', this is the boys' solution to not having a CoolCar for the Valentines' Day car parade.

* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainKnightOfTheOrangeLily'': While in the Toy Brick Car, Gladion's bag and Pokéballs get swiped by another passenger. Once caught, the thief insists he was just "taking what I ''deserve!''", complaining about how many of the other riders comes from worlds ''way'' more interesting than his own, and that Gladion can just catch more '{{Mon}}s once he makes it home.

* The 1989 children's book ''Arnie and the Stolen Marker'' by Nancy Carlson has the title character wanting a brand new set of markers in a store. However he has already spent his allowance and can't afford them. Arnie gives in and steals the markers - but gets found out by his mother and has to confess his crime to the shopkeeper. He eventually has to [[WorkOffTheDebt work for the store as he opened up the markers]].

* ''The Computer That Said Steal Me'' (1983, unknown publisher, paperback novel) is a story about a teenage boy whose parents can't afford a chess computer. He gives in to temptation, and then discovers the problem of explaining HOW he got such an expensive toy.

* Charlene from ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' does this under the [[ToxicFriendInfluence influence of an expensive talking coat]] she bought. The coat (voiced by Creator/TimCurry) convinced Charlene to steal her father's credit card so she could shop at expensive stores. Charlene does this against her better judgement, but ends up getting found out and ultimately punished.

** This was part of Buffy's short decent into semi-darkness along with Faith, who was a bad influence on her. Faith taught Buffy the following simple plan: "Want. Take. Have."

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Boyster}}'' episode: "Shelby, the Art Lover", the titular character in this episode falls in love with a lady in the painting and decides to take it from the museum, but later, things gets worse when it became lost, leading Boyster, Rafik, and him to made another one to return it.
* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', this is Grunkle Stan's response to almost everything; Rogue that he is, he has no qualms committing larceny to get something done. In "Soos and the Real Girl" he decides to steal an animatronic badger from a local SuckECheeses for the Mystery Shack when the restaurant owner refuses to sell it. [[spoiler:This gets him in HUGE trouble in "Not What He Seems". Stan steals nuclear waste from a government waste disposal to power the Universe Portal, which gives Agents Powers and Trigger the evidence to arrest him and launch a full investigation of the Shack.]]

* In ''Manga/ShonanJunaiGumi'', this is the boys' solution to not having a CoolCar for the Valentines' Day car parade.

* {{Inverted}} in a Father's Day episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', in which Professor Utonium very much wants a set of fancy, yet incredibly expensive golf clubs, but can't afford them. After Mojo Jojo has damaged a great deal of Townsville in a fit of rage, Blossom finds the clubs unattended, and is tempted to get them for the Professor for Father's Day - this unfortunately causes problems when the clubs are reported missing, and Professor is arrested since the clubs are found in his possession. Not wanting to get in trouble herself, Blossom tries to blame Mojo for selling the clubs to her, until pressure from others causes her to crack and admit she stole them because Professor wanted them so badly, and she wanted to make him happy.

->'''Rocket''': Question: what if I see something that I wanna take and it belonged to someone else?\\
'''Rhomann''': You would be arrested.\\
'''Rocket''': But what if I want it more than the person who has it?\\
'''Rhomann''': It's still illegal.\\
'''Rocket''': That doesn't follow. No, I want it more, sir, you understand me?
-->-- ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy''

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* ''WebAnimation/MinilifeTV'': In "[[Recap/MinilifeTVSeason2Episode14 Robots, Wizards, and Rock 'n Roll]]", Clair runs into a magic teacher named Professor Lander who's looking for a new assistant and offers to buy her robot friend Archie. After Clair refuses his offer, Professor Lander is forced to steal Archie from her when she's not looking. However, Archie refuses to be his assistant because he'd rather be with Clair, who quickly pieces together that Professor Lander stole him and comes to take him back. Clair promises not to tell anyone that Professor Lander stole Archie when he offers her a position in his class.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', Edwinna Elbert, Stewardess of the Ald-Ruhn Mages Guild Hall, considers herself to be an expect on the extinct [[OurDwarvesAreDifferent Dwemer]] and their LostTechnology, specifically their [[MechaMooks centurions]]. When another mage within the Guild acquires a rare Dwemer book but refuses to let Edwinna read it, Edwinna tasks you with stealing it for her. [[spoiler:It turns out that the book is useless to her research, so she then tasks you with secretly returning it.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons'' episode "Stealing the Show!" has a B-plot involving the Pigs' obsession over Mudman comics. Floyd, the third pig, can't afford the comics and finally gives into his desire to have them by stealing them from Mr. Willow's store. He ends up getting caught and is punished by having to make restitution in the form of working at the store.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirBender'', Katara becomes enthralled with a Water Bending scroll she discovers pirates are selling. So she steals it. Despite the ensuing chaos this decision causes, it's okay because [[SpoofAesop stealing is wrong...unless it's from pirates]].

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''Film/GetOut2017'', it's revealed that [[spoiler: old white people]] admire the [[spoiler: the bodies of young black people]] so much that [[spoiler: the [[BigBadDuumvirate Armitage family]]]] have perfected the Coagula procedure, a combination of [[spoiler: hypnosis and neurosurgery]] that allows said [[spoiler: old white people]] to take advantage of their new [[spoiler: young black bodies' [[BlackIsBiggerInBed new perks.]]]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', Edwinna Elbert, Stewardess of the Ald-Ruhn Mages Guild Hall, considers herself to be an expect on the extinct [[OurDwarvesAreDifferent Dwemer]] and their LostTechnology, specifically their [[MechaMooks centurions]]. When another mage within the Guild acquires a rare Dwemer book but refuses to let Edwinna read it, Edwinna tasks you with stealing it for her. [[spoiler:It turns out that the book is useless to her research, so she then tasks you with secretly returning it]].

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Subverted on ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstoneKids''. Freddy is about to steal from his mother to get a new Captain Caveman gizmo, but after watching a [[ShowWithinAShow Captain Caveman and Son cartoon]] titled "Greed It and Weep", he decides not to go through with it.
* Inverted in a Father's Day episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'', in which Professor Utonium very much wants a set of fancy, yet incredibly expensive golf clubs, but can't afford them. After Mojo Jojo has damaged a great deal of Townsville in a fit of rage, Blossom finds the clubs unattended, and is tempted to get them for the Professor for Father's Day - this unfortunately causes problems when the clubs are reported missing, and Professor is arrested since the clubs are found in his possession. Not wanting to get in trouble herself, Blossom tries to blame Mojo for selling the clubs to her, until pressure from others causes her to crack and admit she stole them because Professor wanted them so badly, and she wanted to make him happy.

--->'''Bart:''' That's not true. [[TemptingFate I got a free ride home, didn't I?]]
--->''(Bart promptly gets kicked out of the car, and they drive off without him)''

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirBender'' Katara becomes enthralled with a Water Bending scroll she discovers pirates are selling. So she steals it. Despite the ensuing chaos this decision causes, its okay because [[SpoofAesop stealing is wrong...unless it's from pirates]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'', this is Grunkle Stan's response to almost everything; Rogue that he is, he has no qualms committing larceny to get something done. In "Soos and the Real Girl" he decides to steal an animatronic badger from a local SuckECheeses for the Mystery Shack when the restaurant owner refuses to sell it. [[spoiler: This gets him in HUGE trouble in "Not What He Seems". Stan steals nuclear waste from a government waste disposal to power the Universe Portal, which gives Agents Powers and Trigger the evidence to arrest him and launch a full investigation of the Shack.]]

Everyone else has the [[CoolToy hottest toy of the year]], the latest trendy fashion, or some other MacGuffin. A character wants the Macguffin badly, but is unable to obtain it as he has no money, [[BecauseISaidSo his parents say no]], or is otherwise inaccessible. So what does the character do? He usually just gives in and steals the Mac Guffin.

Everyone else has the [[CoolToy hottest toy of the year]], the latest trendy fashion, or some other MacGuffin. A character wants the Macguffin badly, but is unable to obtain it as he has no money, [[BecauseISaidSo his parents say no]], or is otherwise inaccessible. So what does the character do? He usually just gives in and steals the Macguffin.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. In the episode "Read It and Weep", Rainbow Dash breaks her wing, is stuck in a hospital, is introduced to an awesome book from the hospital library, and gets over her AntiIntellectualism to read it. RD falls in love with it so badly that she ''needs'' it back, but can't allow herself to be ''seen'' asking for it, so she decides to go [[Franchise/MetalGear Tactical Espionage Action]] and steal it. HilarityEnsues.