History Main / ItMustBeMine

* Mr. Krabs had just sold a cap to ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' when another person showed up saying it was a rare cap and offering way more than what Spongebob paid. Krabs spent most of the episode trying to recover it and, [[spoiler:by the time he did get it back, several others appeared, making it not so valuable anymore]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', episode "The Main Man": An alien called the Preserver has a private zoo in which every creature is the [[LastOfHisKind last of its kind]]; in the episode, it attempts to add Superman, the last Kryptonian, to its collection by hiring Lobo to capture him.
** Once Lobo succeeds, the Preserver ''captures him as well'', since [[WhereIWasBornAndRazed he's the last Czarnian]]. [[{{TeethClenchedTeamwork}} Lobo and Supes team up.]] HilarityEnsues.

* That [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Gelarden or Lawrence III]], depending on the language, in ''Anime/{{Pokemon 2000}}'' who captured the Legendary Birds.

* In ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'' Toyman takes advantage of the fact that the man who bought most of his collection will be completely unable to turn down a certain vintage toy tank if it appears at a toy seller's in Gotham by turning the thing into a remote-controlled weapon. The ensuing confrontation over the toys between Toyman and one of Bruce Wayne's eccentric neighbors who both have this mindset when it comes to the toys they collect has to be broken up by Robin.

* ''Webcomic/DorkTower'': This is actually Igor's CatchPhrase, though it seems like it doesn't so much have to be a unique thing as just press his nerd buttons.

* The actions of [[ChurchMilitant Fiamma of the Right]], the [[spoiler:former]] {{Man Behind the Man}} of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', are guided solely by his obsession with possessing Touma's [[AntiMagic Imagine Breaker]] and [[GodhoodSeeker becoming more powerful than God himself]].

* In ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', the villain Sorath was obsessed with obtaining Shana's FlamingSword Nietono no Shana. When he manages to steal it, he [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness throws away]] his own CoolSword Blutsauger.

-->'''Haggard:''' They are MINE! They belong to ME! The Red Bull gathered them one-by-one and I bade him drive each one into the sea! I like to watch them. They fill me with joy. The first time I felt it, I thought I was going to die. I said to the Red Bull, 'I must have them! I must have all of them, all there are! For nothing makes me happy but their shining, and their grace.' So, the Red Bull caught them. Each time I see the unicorns -- MY unicorns -- it is like that morning in the woods, and I feel young, in ''spite'' of myself!

* The actions of [[ChurchMilitant Fiamma of the Right]], the [[spoiler:former]] {{Man Behind the Man}} of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', are guided solely by his obsession with possessing Touma's [[AntiMagic Imagine Breaker]] and [[AGodAmI becoming more powerful than God himself]].

* In Robert Asprin's fantasy novel ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Myth Directions]]'', Tanda the Trollop assassin ropes protagonist Skeeve into her attempt to find a truly one-of-a-kind item to give to Aahz (a scaly green Pervect) as a birthday present. She ultimately settles on a ghastly frog-sculpture trophy that has no value except as the prize for a heated sports competition between rival cities. Their [[ASimplePlan robbery attempt]] goes horribly wrong, and things only spiral further out of control from there.

* Professir Machinegal in ''Anime/{{Moldiver}}'' has this as his main motivation for being a supervillain. He already is wealthy, respected and famous, but there are technological artifacts he can only get by stealing, and he doesn't think anyone but him are worthy of them anyway.

* ''ComicBook/Superboy1994'': Scavenger wants all the extraterrestrial tech and magical items around Hawaii. When a spear with rumored magical properties is featured on the news he says is must be his before teleporting in and stealing it after Superboy has already been knocked for a loop by Knockout.
* In ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'' Toyman takes advantage of the fact that the man who bought most of his collection will be completely unable to turn down a certain vintage toy tank if it appears at a toy-seller's in Gotham by turning the thing into a remote controlled weapon. The ensuing confrontation over the toys between Toyman and one of Bruce Wayne's eccentric neighbors who both have this mindset when it comes to the toys they collect has to be broken up by Robin.

* Creator/SimonRGreen's ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'' books feature the [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Collector]], who is reclusive, petulant and somewhat childish in his single-minded devotion to things that -- in his opinion -- only he can truly appreciate.

* ''Series/TheAvengers1960s'' episode "[[Series/TheManFromUncle The Man from Auntie]]" features a villainous firm which collects items like this for... collectors. The "item" they've currently stolen and plan to [[AuctionOfEvil auction off]] is Emma Peel.
* Comes up in ''Series/DadsArmy'' of all places where Mainwaring is trying to buy some oranges at a charity auction from the warden, who predictably is doing everything in his power to stop him getting them. Eventually Wilson tells Pike to buy an orange for Mainwaring, but neglects to tell the captain, resulting in Mainwaring entering a furious bidding war against himself. He eventually ends up paying ten shillings for it (when the first one sold for a couple of pence).

** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E6TheSeedsOfDoom "The Seeds of Doom"]], two alien pods are found in the Antarctic permafrost. The psychotic millionaire Harrison Chase sends a team of thugs to get them, because they're unique. The pods cause vegetation to kill animal life, endangering the world.

** Invoked in the World of Kabuto arc, where Decade claims to have a bottle of legendary spice discovered by Vasco de Gama, which of course Diend wants. In reality it's nothing but ordinary pepper, and Decade is {{Troll}}ing Diend as payback for all the trolling he usually does.

* In ''Series/LoisAndClark'', a baddie captures Superman, and uses ComicBook/LoisLane as hostage to make sure he doesn't escape. Which he does, via NewPowersAsThePlotDemands.

Note it's not the artifact [[ArtifactOfAttraction hypnotically seducing the person into wanting it]]. The person is just that selfish or greedy. Nor is it something earned; it's outright taken. It also doesn't count if someone steals it [[TheKleptomaniac for the thrill of the theft]], or to just show how good a thief he/she is. Either the thief has to want it, or he/she is stealing it for someone who does.

* ''Series/TheAvengers'' episode "[[Series/TheManFromUncle The Man from Auntie]]" features a villainous firm which collects items like this for... collectors. The "item" they've currently stolen and plan to [[AuctionOfEvil auction off]] is Emma Peel.

* The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Most Toys". The thing that was stolen was Lieutenant Commander Data. It probably wasn't one of Kivas Fajo's better business plans...

* Most of the characters in ''Film/TheMalteseFalcon'' will go to any lengths to obtain the fabled bird.

* ''Franchise/KamenRider'':
** ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'': Kamen Rider Diend has a 'treasure' in each episode that he is seeking. He alone knows what makes something a 'treasure,' and he only wants it because it is one, and rarely for what it actually does (some of 'em are important to the plot.)
** ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'': Invoked in the World of Kabuto arc, where Decade claims to have a bottle of legendary spice discovered by Vasco de Gama, which of course Diend wants. In reality it's nothing but ordinary pepper, and Decade is {{Troll}}ing Diend as payback for all the trolling he usually does.

* That [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Gelarden or Lawrence III]], depending on the language, in ''Anime/{{Pokemon 2000}}'' who captured the Legendary Birds.

* The actions of [[ChurchMilitant Fiamma of the Right]], the [[spoiler:former]] {{Man Behind the Man}} of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', are guided solely by his obsession with possessing Touma's [[AntiMagic Imagine Breaker]] and [[AGodAmI becoming more powerful than God himself]].

* In ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', the villain Sorath was obsessed with obtaining Shana's FlamingSword Nietono no Shana. When he manages to steal it, he [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness throws away]] his own CoolSword Blutsauger.

[[folder:Film]]

* Ublaz Mad Eyes in ''The Pearls of Lutra'' from the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' series is obsessed with the titular pearls, known as "the Tears of All Oceans". He has a crown already made with six empty facets in which to place the pearls, and wants them badly enough to send multiple expeditions out to Mossflower to find them, resulting in the slaughter of an entire hold of otters ([[SoleSurvivor save one]]) and the abduction of innocent Abbeydwellers just to satisfy his vanity.
* There is a story where a princess (or maybe duchess) hears someone in her land has a talking cat. She wants it for herself, so she throws the owner in her dungeon. One scene has her riding in her carriage, carrying the cat in her hand muff, and the cat escapes by biting her hand.

* In Robert Asprin's fantasy novel ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Myth Directions]]'', Tanda the Trollop assassin ropes protagonist Skeeve into her attempt to find a truly one-of-a-kind item to give to Aahz (a scaly green Pervect) as a birthday present. She ultimately settles on a ghastly frog-scuplture trophy that has no value except as the prize for a heated sports competition between rival cities. Their [[ASimplePlan robbery attempt]] goes horribly wrong, and things only spiral further out of control from there.
** To add to it, Skeeve tries to keep Aahz from finding out about any of this because he knows the lecture he'll get for having done something like this. When Aahz ''does'' find out and asks incredulously "This ugly statue is what's behind all this?", a frustrated Skeeve responds "Yeah, because we wanted to give it to you. Happy birthday." After a stunned minute, Aahz decides ItMustBeMine and the group alters their escape plan to include the theft of the trophy.
* In the first ''[[Literature/AcornaSeries Acorna]]'' book, Hafiz Harakamian sought to add Acorna to his collection of rarities as the crown jewel, a desire which quickly disappeared once he learned she wasn't some sort of mutant, but a lost member of a space-faring race.

* The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Most Toys". The thing that was stolen was Lieutenant Commander Data. It probably wasn't one of Kivas Fajo's better business plans...
* An episode of ''Series/JonathanCreek'' had a woman and her daughter steal a valuable statue to spite its owner (the mother's brother). When the daughter went to recover it she was murdered by an AxCrazy, sociopathic pimp who decided he wanted it simply because he heard it was valuable.
* In ''Series/LoisAndClark'', a baddie captures Superman, and uses ComicBook/LoisLane as hostage to make sure he doesn't escape. Which he does, via NewPowersAsThePlotDemands.

** In "The Seeds of Doom", two alien pods are found in the Antarctic permafrost. The psychotic millionaire Harrison Chase sends a team of thugs to get them, because they're unique. The pods cause vegetation to kill animal life, endangering the world.
** In "City of Death", a key plot-point involves the theft of the Mona Lisa to be sold (along with six identical paintings) to finance Count Scarlioni's temporal experiments. Inspector Duggan observed to the Doctor at one point, "There are at least seven people in my address book who'd pay millions for that picture, for their own private collections. It would be an expensive gloat, but they'd do it."
* At least one ''Series/MissionImpossible'' episode had a millionaire who had a national treasure that the original nation wanted back, and it was important they get it for reasons of international politics. The current owner was not cooperative.
* Comes up in ''Series/DadsArmy'' of all places where Mainwaring is trying to buy some oranges at a charity auction from the warden, who predictably is doing everything in his power to stop him getting them. Eventually Wilson tells Pike to buy an orange for Mainwaring, but neglects to tell the captain, resulting in Mainwaring entering a furious bidding war against himself. He eventually ends up paying ten shillings for it (when the first one sold for a couple of pence).
* ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'': Kamen Rider Diend has a 'treasure' in each episode that he is seeking. He alone knows what makes something a 'treasure,' and he only wants it because it is one, and rarely for what it actually does (some of 'em are important to the plot.)
* ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'': Invoked in the World of Kabuto arc, where Decade claims to have a bottle of legendary spice discovered by Vasco de Gama, which of course Diend wants. In reality it's nothing but ordinary pepper, and Decade is {{Troll}}ing Diend as payback for all the trolling he usually does.

* There was a ''{{Thundercats}}'' episode where some queen tried to cage a magical songbird ([[InformedAbility although its song didn't come across as beautiful as we were told]]).