Told from the criminal viewpoint, a group plans and executes a robbery. The criminals are usually more rounded than the opposition, or at least more colorful. Usually contains at least one ATeamMontage or AvengersAssemble sequence. May feature an EigenPlot. Alternatly called a "heist."

TheCaper is more action-oriented than TheCon. See also ImpossibleMission, TheInfiltration, ArmedBlag, TrainJob, and DoubleCaper.
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!!Examples:

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[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* A lot of the filler arcs of ''GetBackers'' qualify as TheCaper. Even though the titular characters only steal items to return then to their original owners, sometimes the definition of "original owner" can get really fuzzy (especially with Clayman).
*In an episode of ''KeroroGunsou'', Momoka, Natsumi, and Moa form the "PhantomThief Troupe: More Peach Summer" to steal the painting "The Birth of Venus"... which turns out to be [[spoiler: an embarassing portrait of Momoka as a baby, naked]].

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[[folder: Film ]]

* ''Topkapi'', ''Rififi'', and ''The League of Gentlemen'' -- all were direct inspiration for ''MissionImpossible''.
* ''TheBankJob''
* ''InsideMan'', in a roundabout fashion.
* ''TheItalianJob'' - both the new one and the proper one from 1969.
* The Stanley Kubrick film ''TheKilling''.
* ''[=~Ocean's Eleven~=]'' (original, remake, and remake sequels).
* The Danish film-series ''Olsen-banden'' and its Swedish and Norwegian counterparts consists pretty much of nothing but this.
* The latest ''St. Trinians'' movie (and the older ones, too).
* ''{{Sneakers}}''. [[DoubleCaper Multiple times]].
* Both versions of ''TheThomasCrownAffair.''
* Used in both straight and subverted forms in ''TheUsualSuspects''.
* ''Vabank'' ([[MarketBasedTitle ''Hit the bank'' in USA]]), as a revenge.
* ''SexyBeast'', though the main character spends most of his energies trying to avoid participation in the caper.

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[[folder: Literature ]]

* ''The Great Train Robbery'' by Michael Crichton.

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''{{Firefly}}'': "The Train Job," "Ariel," and "Trash."
* ''{{The Knights of Prosperity}},'' originally titled ''Let's Rob Mick Jagger.''
* ''{{Leverage}}'' uses this trope as its main premise often mixing it with TheCon.
* ''MacGyver'' episode "The Heist".
* Although ''MissionImpossible'' prided itself on its use of TheCon, they weren't above pulling off an occasional Caper.
* The short-lived series ''{{Thieves}}''.
* ''{{Hustle}}'' is normally about TheCon, but sometimes the crew has to pull TheCaper.
* The FX character drama ''Thief'' revolves around this trope, as does the NBC actioner, ''{{Heist}}''.

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[[folder: Video Games ]]

* The final quest for the Thieves Guild in ''TheElderScrolls IV: Oblivion'' is called "The Ultimate Heist" -- rightly so, because it sees you breaking into [[spoiler:the Emperor's Palace and stealing one of the titular Elder Scrolls]]. The preparations for this mission comprise the three penultimate quests that you perform for the Grey Fox himself.
* Some of the subplots of ''{{Thief}}'' enter into this trope; Garrett sometimes goes through elaborate plans over multiple game levels to enter secure locations.
* Parodied in one ''SaintsRow 2'' mission where an elaborate plan is thought up for a heist, but the plan is scrapped in favor of just killing everyone.

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[[folder: Web Animation ]]

* Strong Bad and The Cheat of ''HomestarRunner'' occasionally engage in capers. These ventures rarely turn out to be successful. On one notable occasion, Strong Bad gets mad at The Cheat for screwing up one of these capers but then later feels bad about it, which leads to him writing a song about how he's glad The Cheat is not dead.
** Then there's the one where they somehow manage to set Homestar adrift in the Arctic Ocean, and can't for the life of them remember how they pulled off their "greatest caper ever". It apparently started with The Cheat peeing in Homestar's melonade...

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* The ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Task Force X" featured a makeshift criminal team executing a daring theft from the League's orbital headquarters.

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