‘It Takes a Thief’ Hosts Pack Them In During ISC East Keynote, Co-Sponsored by SSI
NEW YORK
A packed house greeted the keynote opening presentation of
the International Security Conference (ISC) East in New
York on Aug. 24, as the co-stars and other minds behind
television’s “It Takes a Thief” presented their views on
security in an event co-sponsored by Security Sales &
Integration. Following the presentation,
the “Thief”
stars signed autographs and talked with ISC attendees at
Security Sales & Integration‘s booth at ISC East.
The Discovery Channel program’s co-hosts – Matt
Johnston
and Jon Douglas Rainey – were joined on stage in
Hall 1E of
the Jacob Javits Convention Center by the show’s security
consultant, Frank Santamorena, a Physical Security
Professional (PSP) with ASSA ABLOY Americas’
Integrated
Solutions Specialist (ISS) Program. Rainey urged the
audience to not only let their products secure their
client, but also help their clients secure themselves.
“You can give people high-tech solutions, but if you don’t
change your behavior, it won’t do any good,” said Rainey, a
reformed ex-burglar. “It’s a widespread problem that people
don’t take their security seriously.”
On the show, Rainey and Johnston perform mock burglaries of
volunteers’ homes to reveal their security holes, then
reveal solutions on how to secure their families. Many
alarm companies and manufacturers have been presented on
the show offering their security solutions.
Johnston told the ISC crowd that homeowners are scared
straight into doing more for their security.
“I know these people sign on for this, but to see all your
stuff stolen does something to you. Jon calls it shock
therapy,” Johnston said. “People get very emotional.
Security is only as good as the people who use it.”
The event drew rave reactions from the crowd, including
Security Industry Association (SIA) Manager of
Industry
Groups Douglas Wright.
“I feel their program will do more for the security
industry than any of us have been able to do for the last
decade,” Wright said. “I was very impressed with this
presentation.”
A video montage produced by Discovery exclusively for the
ISC keynote was presented, drawing further oohs and ahs
from the audience. The presentation also featured
SSI Publisher Mike Zawinski and Editor-in-
Chief
Scott Goldfine.
Following the keynote, Johnston, Rainey and Santamorena
greeted expo attendees at SSI‘s booth and
autographed copies of the August issue of the magazine,
which features an exclusive “It Takes a Thief” cover story.
Select lucky visitors also received commemorative t-shirts,
many of which were also signed by the show’s on-screen and
behind-the-scenes talent. See the October issue of
SSI for a complete wrap-up of ISC East.
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