I s there really anything dangerous about the show It Takes a Thief on the Discovery Channel?

Question

The Discovery Channel show It Takes a Thief is my favorite show! But some people have expressed concerns that the show is actually showing people more about how to rob houses than how to secure houses. Personally, I think that's wrong. If someone wanted to rob you, they wouldn't have to watch this show to figure out that if you break a window, you can crawl in-And that's all Jon(the gut who does the break-ins) really does. What do you think?

Answer 1

I don't think it's harmful in regards to teaching anything about burglarizing a home, but I do think it may cause otherwise law-abiding people to think about a career change. Jon (and the production crew) make it look relatively easy, and with that in mind I can see how it could encourage some people to try it themselves.

To me though, the main focus is on what would happen to you, the viewer, if you were robbed without a security system. Most of the victims simply lacked common sense; a wide-open safe full of valuables, hundreds of dollars in cash stuffed into a jar on the refrigerator or under a mattress, car keys left in the ignition, etc.

What we see is only a small part of the reality. With him being a (former) professional thief, I'm sure there are dozens of other tactics he could employ that we will never learn from the show. I'm also sure that he could circumvent much of the security he helps to set up - but they never show how that's done, either.

Lastly, the one thing that is missing from the show that wouldn't be missing from a "real" burglary - Jon never has to worry about being caught.

Answer 2

Knowledge is not dangerous, lack of is. I have never seen the show but think about it. Someone people just wouldn't think that all their pretty landscaping could actually make their houses more inviting for a thief to break in(such as large hedges up close to the house hiding people from the street seeing them break in in brood day light). Leaving ladder leaning up against the house letting people easy access to the second floor widows left open to cool off the house. Show that give knowledge can help stop simple crimes from happening! Raising the knowledge of people is never a bad thing!! On the money note, think of the reduced Insurance rates!!

Answer 3

I like the idea of showing people how to protect their homes; but it shows people who have no idea how to do such things how to do them.

--Lee Ann