"Opportunity makes a thief." Or, in the case of a hit show, a thief seizes the opportunity to do something great. Well, at least he would have if his idea wasn't, get this, stolen.
The Discovery Channel television show "It Takes a Thief" gives an inside scoop to the way burglars break into houses. These ex-criminals help viewers to make their houses safer and less approachable by unwanted guests.
He may not have been the one to go through with putting the show into production, but infamous jewel thief Walter Shaw claims that the show was entirely his idea. He has accused the producers of the Discovery Channel hit of stealing what is rightfully his.
What goes around comes around, bucko!
Shaw was at his burglar-prime in the '70s and '80s, stealing from high-class homes in southern Florida. He claims to be clean and crime-free since the late '80s, but now, almost 20 years later, he's getting a taste of his own medicine. He may not be losing precious jewels like the ones he stole, but to him, his loss is just as valuable.
Each episode, two ex-burglars break into a house and show the step-by-step robbery and the ways to prevent intrusions. The ex-cons have kissed goodbye their law-breaking pasts, and have put their break-in skills to the test. Now they're working toward a good cause, something Shaw claims he was going to be the first to do.
Shaw's name has appeared in the news for the lawsuit, but his name has yet to be seen in the credits, as the Discovery Channel refuses to associate him with the show. He said that he filmed one episode in which he was supposed to star, but later found out he was cut out of it. The reason he feels so mislead is because he was under the impression it was going to be a collaborative effort, but he was completely omitted from the entire operation.
Fair? Not remotely. Did he have it coming? Absolutely.
According to Shaw and his attorney, Richard Wolfe, Lion Television and the Discovery Channel contacted him about the show after reading an article featuring him. When Shaw discussed his idea with the producers only to be left out during the making of the show, he filed a lawsuit against them. Shaw's demands include half of the show's profits thus far, and he insists that the show be taken off the air immediately.
Most people involved think it to be comical: the complacent thief acting hostile because he's become a victim of theft. However, Shaw insists that what he's missing out on isn't just the money from a profitable TV show, but the recognition that he made a contribution. He wants to ensure that his input has not gone unnoticed. Oh, and then he decided he wanted half of the money, too.
"It's not about the money. It's about the principle. You just can't rip off an idea or a patent, and just do what you want," Shaw said in an interview with NBC.
Shaw has made it clear that he does not expect sympathy from the public, especially considering his criminal background. Who knows how he expects to win the case. Perhaps he'll be able to steal away a win from the justice system.
Write to Whitney at
wlhoyt@bsu.edu
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