Home Security

It Takes a Thief is a reality television series currently airing on the Discovery Channel. Jon Douglas Rainey and Matt Johnston—real ex-burglars—are the show's hosts. more...

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With permission from their intended "victims," they utilize their skills to stage a full-fledged burglary, after which the security-challenged homeowners watch how it happened on closed-circuit television. The thefts usually occur in suburban homes, although businesses, a college fraternity, and even a police station have been burglarized.

Episode synopsis

Season One (March 2005)

Matt Johnston and Jon Rainey case a neighborhood for a suitable house to burglarize. Homes with security weaknesses or that likely have security-lax owners are targeted. Rainey, who does the actual break-ins, looks for unlocked doors and windows, alarm systems (or lack thereof), and any tools or ladders left outside that can be used to gain entry. He also determines how visible the house is from the street or to the neighbors.

After selecting a house, Rainey leaves to plan the break-in while Johnston meets with the owners to obtain their permission, offering a free security renovation in exchange. Johnston tours the home to identify unsecured entry points, inventory valuables, and determine what (if any) security measures the homeowners use. None of this information is relayed to Rainey, and Johnston is unaware just how the actual break-in will be executed.

Cameras are installed throughout the house to record the action. Once everything is ready, the family secures and leaves the home as they normally would and then watch the break-in with Johnston on TV monitors in a nearby van. Rainey treats each break-in as a real heist, ransacking rooms while identifying the most valuable items as quickly as possible, and searching in what many consider secure hiding places. If the keys to a homeowner's car is found, that will likely be taken as well. Occasionally, Rainey uses accomplices, and nearly every break-in employs a different strategy. The entire burglary usually take less than 15 minutes, resulting in property loss that can run into thousands of dollars. Not all break-ins are successful; police have "apprehended" Rainey on at least two occasions (he was immediately released).

Once the burglary is over, Johnston takes the owners back into the house to survey the aftermath firsthand. Then they meet Rainey—an often emotional encounter. The stolen items are returned, and Rainey explains why he chose the items and gives an estimated resale value. Many are stolen because they can quickly be fenced, but others (such as credit cards, passports, birth certificates, etc.) can have a far greater and longer-lasting financial impact on victims through identity theft. Others items, such as knives, handguns and law enforcement uniforms, are dangerous in a criminal's hands. The day ends with a cleaning crew putting the house back in order and a security guard posted outside overnight.

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