History Main / StolenGoodReturnedBetter

* In ''BackToTheFuture'', Marty [=McFly=] steals a kid's scooter in the past, ripping off the handles so it's just the board. When he gives it back, it's the world's first skateboard.
** He does something similar in the future, ganking a hover-skateboard from a little girl. By the time he's returned it after getting away from Griff, she's already taken Griff's high-end, rocket-powered skateboard for herself.

** Well, Beast Boy and Cyborg were upset. Raven's only real issue was that Jynx went in her room and tried on her ropes, and both Robin and Starfire seemed pretty happy about it all.

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* In an episode of ''Series/MichaelBentinesPottyTime'', [[TheSandiego a thief]] steals Nelson's Column, the Effiel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It turns out the thief was actually having them cleaned as a gift to the governments of the UK, France and the USA and returned them in 'as-new' condition.

* An episode of ''LasVegas'' has Mike borrow his boss Big Ed's convertible to take on a date. While out, the car gets stolen by Mike's date, and Mike tracks it down to a chop shop. When they tell the man in charge whose car it is, he apologizes, has it put back together, detailed, and returned.

* In an early episode of ''[[Anime/{{Ptitlei015gc004kw4}} Pokémon]]'', Team Rocket steals a Ditto belonging to the professional impersonator Duplica, only to discover that it cannot mimic faces properly. They promptly whip it into shape, and when Duplica and the protagonists show up to steal it back, Duplica gives them heartfelt thanks for helping Ditto overcome its problem.

* An episode of ''LasVegas'' has Danny borrow his boss Big Ed's convertible to take on a date. While out, the car gets stolen and Danny & Mike track it down to a chop shop. When they tell the man in charge whose car it is, he apologizes, has it put back together, tuned up, cleaned, polished and returned.

* In ''CodeGeass'', after Kallen and her [[HumongousMecha Guren]] are captured by Britannia, they strap a crapload of high-tech upgrades onto it only for her to break out and steal it right back.

* In TransformersAnimated, the Headmaster steals Sentinel Prime's body and, while he has his hands on it, upgrades it.

** He does something similar in the future, ganking a hover-skateboard from a little girl. By the time he's returned it after getting away from future!Biff, she's already taken Biff's high-end, rocket-powered skateboard for herself.

Bob has stolen something from Alice. [=~And That's Terrible~=]. But then Bob then proceeds to upgrade, repair, or otherwise improve his stolen goods. One way or another -- whether by Bob returning it, Alice stealing it back, or a random coincidence -- Alice gets her stuff back. While she might have been unhappy about the theft, she's pleasantly surprised at Bob's improvements.

Bob has stolen something from Alice, [=~And That's Terrible~=]. Bob then proceeds to upgrade, repair, or otherwise improve his stolen goods. One way or another - whether by Bob returning it, Alice stealing it back, or a random coincidence - Alice gets her stuff back. While she might have been rather unhappy about having her stuff stolen, she's pleasantly surprised to find her stuff returned even better than before.

* In an episode of ''MichaelBentinesPottyTime'', [[TheSandiego a thief]] steals Nelson's Column, the Effiel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It turns out the thief was actually having them cleaned as a gift to the governments of the UK, France and the USA and returned them in 'as-new' condition.

* In an episode of ''MichaelBentinesPottyTime'', [[TheSadiego a thief]] steals Nelson's Column, the Effiel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. It turns out the thief was actually having them cleaned as a gift to the governments of the UK, France and the USA and returned them in 'as-new' condition.

* An episode of ''Las Vegas'' has Danny borrow his boss Big Ed's convertible to take on a date. While out, the car gets stolen and Danny & Mike track it down to a chop shop. When they tell the man in charge whose car it is, he apologizes, has it put back together, tuned up, cleaned, polished and returned.

* In ''{{Freefall}}'', Sam steals his neighbor's truck, claiming it to be "borrowing" — he ''did'' intend to return it, after all. Florence works on it for a while before returning it. [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff300/fv00213.htm It runs a bit better afterward.]]

* PlayedForLaughs in a ''{{Futurama}}'' movie. Bender steals Leela's engagment ring and replaces it with a better one. This is his wedding gift. Because he's Bender.

* In ''BackToTheFuture'', Marty [=McFly=] steals a kid's scooter, but when he gives it back, it's the world's first skateboard.

* In GundamWing after OZ get their hands on some of the gundams, they are rebuilt just in time for the heroes to take them back.

* The old MarvelComics series The NewWarriors played with this a bit. The character Silouette stole an [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper Unstable Molecule costume]] from [[FantasticFour Reed Richards]] (she could meld into the shadows for teleportation but would [[BlessedWithSuck always lose her clothes in the process since they can't meld with her]], forcing her to find something with less FanService.) She shed her old costume and stole the new one, feeling guilty about the situation afterwards. She tried to return it to Richards, but he was fine with the situation and ended up tweaking it slightly for her... and offering to make further costumes for her in the future.

* In BackToTheFuture Marty [=McFly=] steals a kid's scooter, but when he gives it back, it's the world's first skateboard.

* In ChronoTrigger Dalton steals the Epoch. But when the heroes steal it back, [[GlobalAirship it can fly]].
* In {{Fallout}} 2, your car may be stolen in Reno, but if you find it in the chop shop, the guys who stole it will helpfully return it to you better than before.
* In the classic text-adventure game {{Zork}} one of the treasures you find is a golden egg... but if you let the thief steal it, when you find his lair later, you find that the egg has been opened, and it contains a golden singing bird--much more valuable!

* In ''TeenTitans'', the Hive takes over the Titans' (filthy) Tower. By the time the Titans retake it, the Hive have cleaned it up and alphabetized their [=CDs=]. The Titans are appalled, since now they can't find anything and they were saving [[ItCameFromTheFridge that blue mold]].

[[AC:RoleplayingGames]]
* In ''InNomine'', this is the modus operandi of Kyriotates, angels who manifest by possessing human bodies. (And animals, and in some cases plants and machines.) They suffer dissonance if they leave the host in a worse condition than when they "borrowed" it, so they'd rather be safe than sorry and put in some extra effort. Their demonic counterparts, the Shedim, couldn't care less about their host and take pleasure in corrupting it.

* The old MarvelComics series The NewWarriors played with this a bit. The character Silouette stole an [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper Unstable Molecule costume]] from [[FantasticFour Reed Richards]] (she could meld into the shadows for teleportation but would [[BlessedWithSuck always lose her clothes in the process since they can't meld with her]], forcing her to find something with less FanService.) She shed her old costume and stole the new one, feeling guilty about the situation afterwards. She tried ot return it to Richards but he was fine with the situation and ended up tweaking it slightly for her and offering to make further costume in the future.

Bob has stolen something from Alice, AndThatsTerrible. Bob then proceeds to upgrade, repair, or otherwise improve his stolen goods. One way or another - whether by Bob returning it, Alice stealing it back, or a random coincidence - Alice gets her stuff back. While she might have been rather unhappy about having her stuff stolen, she's pleasantly surprised to find her stuff returned even better than before.

* In an early episode of ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'', Team Rocket steals a Ditto belonging to the professional impersonator Duplica, only to discover that it cannot mimic faces properly. They promptly whip it into shape, and when Duplica and the protagonists show up to steal it back, Duplica gives them heartfelt thanks for helping Ditto overcome its problem.

* Played with in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0qXf5c6v5k this segment]] from ''The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller''. StephenFry reluctantly parts with his expensive watch, which P&T proceed to improve. Specifically (and in order), the watch becomes waterproof, shock-resistant, [[spoiler:smashed to bits]], [[spoiler:capable of holding fifty phone numbers]], and [[spoiler:fish-proof]].

* In the Wyatt novels by Garry Disher whenever Wyatt steals a car, he always leaves it in a parking lot with a full tank of petrol.

* An UrbanLegend says {{MisterRogers}}' car was stolen, and when the thief discovered that that was who he stole it from, returned it after detailing it.

* In ''InNomine'', This is the modus operandi of Kyriotates, angels who manifest by possessing human bodies. (And animals, and in some cases plants and machines.) They suffer dissonance if they leave the host in a worse condition than when they "borrowed" it, so they'd rather be safe than sorry and put in some extra effort. Their demonic counterparts, the Shedim, couldn't care less about their host and take pleasure in corrupting it.