History Series / ItTakesAThief2005

* DistractedByTheSexy: One episode had Jon stealing from an all-male frathouse and having a woman accomplice posing as a student trying to find someone to help keep them distracted. There are points where Jon is able to ''walk right by the frathouse members'' because all of them are trying to hit on his accomplice.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: During a heist Jon came across some September 11th items and remarked that he couldn't bring himself to steal them.

* ComprisingCall: On an episode, Jon is robbing a sorority and decides to wait until all the residents are home (presumably so he doesn't have to worry about anyone showing up while the heist is in progress). Jon makes his move while all the girls are in the living room, assuming they'd all be there for a while. Instead, the girls almost immediately split into small groups and meander about. Matt, watching the cameras decides to call Jon to warn him. The trope ends up [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] when it turns out Jon turned his phone off prior to beginning the heist.

* MurdererPOV: In some episodes, Jon wears a miniature camera so Matt, the house owners, and the viewers can watch the crime from his point of view.

** DeliciousDistraction: In at least a couple of instances, Jon uses food as a means of placating a guard dog.

'''''It Takes a Thief''''' is a reality television show that aired on the Creator/DiscoveryChannel between 2005 and 2007. It starred two former thieves (Matt Johnston & Jon Douglas Rainey) who had reformed their lives; Matt had become a schoolteacher, and Jon a private eye. The episodes consist of them finding a homeowner who has very lax security on his/her home, which they then rob with the homeowners' consent, in exchange for a full upgrade to the security in their home. This robbery is filmed on an ad-hoc CCTV system installed in the house by the show's technical staff, and is played back for the viewing audience in real-time (burglaries that take over 10 to 15 minutes are edited for time). The homeowners must secure their house normally.

!!Tropes:

[[quoteright:350:Because to catch a thief, ''It Takes a Thief''.]]

''It Takes a Thief'' is a reality television show that aired on The DiscoveryChannel between 2005 and 2007. It starred two former thieves (Matt Johnston & Jon Douglas Rainey) who had reformed their lives; Matt had become a schoolteacher, and Jon a private eye. The episodes consist of them finding a homeowner who has very lax security on his/her home, which they then rob with the homeowners' consent, in exchange for a full upgrade to the security in their home. This robbery is filmed on an ad-hoc CCTV system installed in the house by the show's technical staff, and is played back for the viewing audience in real-time (burglaries that take over 10 to 15 minutes are edited for time). The homeowners must secure their house normally.

''It Takes a Thief'' is a reality television show that aired on The DiscoveryChannel between 2005 and 2007. It starred two former thieves (Matt Johnston & Jon Douglas Rainey) who had reformed their lives; Matt had become a schoolteacher, and Jon a private eye. The episodes consist of them finding a homeowner who has very lax security on his/her home, which they then rob with the homeowners' consent, in exchange for a full upgrade to the security in their home. This robbery is filmed on an ad-hoc CCTV system installed in the house by the show's technical staff, and is played back for the viewing audience in real-time (burglaries that take over 10 to 15 minutes are edited for time, however). The homeowners must secure their house normally.

* BuddyCopShow / CriminalProcedural: The show mixes both of these tropes together.
* [[MurdererPOV Burglar POV]]: In some episodes, Jon wears a miniature camera so Matt, the house owners, and the viewers can watch the crime from his point of view.
* DonutMessWithACop: On one notable occasion, the "target" of the episode was a ''police station''. ("I can't believe we're going to jack the cops.") When Jon showed up for the meeting with his victims, he brought a plate of donuts as a peace offering.
* EvilDetectingDog: Not played out ''nearly'' as straight as the homeowners would like. In some cases the big {{angry guard dog}} actually comes over to make friends.
* EvilIsPetty: Not "evil" per say, but on one heist Jon not only stole a family's money and appliances but also their ''beer''. He drank it while he was still in the house.

* ReformedCriminal: Both of the hosts, though their records were exaggerated a bit for the opening credits.

* EvilyIsPetty: Not "evil" per say, but on one heist Jon not only stole a family's money and appliances but also their ''beer''. He drank it while he was still in the house.

** Also, one person's security was so lax, they robbed her house ''while she was in it'', and played back the tape later.

* ImpersonatingAnOfficer: Some of the homeowners who signed up for the show were either police officers or married to police officers. Matt always made a point of talking about what would have happened if a real burglar, instead of Jon, had walked off with police uniforms, badges, and firearms.

* DonutMessWithACop: On one notable occasion, the "target" of the episode was a ''police station''. ("I can't believe we're going to jack the cops.") When Jon showed up for the meeting with his victims, he brought a plate of donuts as a peace offering.

Not to be confused with the [[SimilarlyNamedWorks identically named]] 1968-1970 SpyFiction series starring Robert Wagner. That show has [[Series/ItTakesAThief its own entry]].

They then return about two weeks later to attempt to break into the house to make sure that the family has actually improved their habits. In about 1/2 the cases, despite the family knowing there will be a second robbery attempt, they're still able to break in again!

Not to be confused with the [[Series/ItTakesAThief 1968-1970 series]] starring Robert Wagner.

!!Provides Examples Of:

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/it_takes_a_thief-show_4205.jpg

''It Takes a Thief'' is a reality television show that aired on The Discovery Channel between 2005 and 2007. It starred two former thieves (Matt Johnston & Jon Douglas Rainey) who had reformed their lives; Matt had become a schoolteacher, and Jon a private eye. The episodes consist of them finding a homeowner who has very lax security on his/her home, which they then rob with the homeowners' consent, in exchange for a full upgrade to the security in their home. This robbery is filmed on an ad-hoc CCTV system installed in the house by the show's technical staff, and is played back for the viewing audience in real-time (burglaries that take over 10 to 15 minutes are edited for time, however). The homeowners must secure their house normally.