About 65 students listened to Jon Douglas Rainey, co-host of Discovery Channel's series "It Takes a Thief," Wednesday night in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.
"I get paid to break into people's houses and steal everything they love," he said, adding that he was arrested twice after the Discovery Channel failed to inform neighbors about the show.
After families are robbed, they are given tips and security devices to make their homes safer.
Rainey said his past theft experience helped give him a leg up when applying for the job.
"I had the criminal record to be qualified to host the show," he said. "But I'm not a crook - that was a long time ago."
During Rainey's hour-long presentation, he gave students tips on safety.
"Accessibility is the main reason people are robbed," he said. "Lock your doors and windows."
Rainey also told students to choose friends wisely, keep personal items hidden and lock doors while at home.
Gainesville resident Edward Anderson, 24, who watches the show, said he enjoyed Rainey's talk because of how informative it was.
"It definitely gives you insight on how to make yourself safe and secure," he said.
Audience members also asked what Rainey's favorite moments were while filming the show.
"My favorite place I've ever robbed was a police station," he said. "We locked the chief of police in a room with rubber doorstops and robbed the shit out of the police station. We took it all."
According to UF's director of off-campus life, Nora Kilroy, it cost around $7,000 to bring Rainey to campus.
