Beat the Burglar

Beat the Burglar took the format of a light-entertainment daytime TV show based around home security. Presenter Dom would chat to the owners at their home, and they'd stand around chatting and laughing, as if he was a friend who'd popped round for tea. He'd explain that ex-burglar turned security consultant Mike would show them how thieves could enter their home and advise them how to improve the security of their home, before being led away to watch via cameras. Everyone was in a good mood.

That quickly changed, because Mike did not mess about. He'd get into the house using almost any means necessary, going from room to room, emptying drawers onto the floor and gathering anything of value. In one episode he found their car keys, loaded their valuables and TV into their own car on the drive and drove off leaving the front door open.

Meanwhile, the family are watching in abject horror, often in tears as their home is ransacked in front of them. Then Dom would take them, still shaking and sobbing, to meet the man who'd just desecrated their home, to discuss what had happened and how they could prevent it happening for real.

It was an absolute joy to watch, because you knew it would be an experience they could never forget, and would never be complacent about security again. If it was still around today, it would be the stuff of viral videos.