One-Time Notorious Jewel Thief Teams Up With TV Mobsters To Show How to Protect Home's Most Precious Jewels from Threats Like Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper PR Newswire -- March 18, 2003 NEW YORK, March 18 /PRNewswire/ --Walter T. Shaw, one-time notorious jewel thief-turned successful video producer and soon-to-be filmmaker -- says an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of searches, Amber Alerts and awards for missing children. "Most people don't even turn their alarm system on when they're at home," Shaw will say at a news conference tomorrow morning at the St. Regis Hotel flanked by "TV Mobster" pals who will be playing a supporting role for extending homeland security to the home. They include cast members of "The Sopranos", "Oz" and gangster film hits "Goodfellas" and "Casino". Shaw will praise "A Child Is Missing," which has assisted police in many recoveries of missing individuals within 1.5 hours of activation of its program. He will present the non-profit's founder Sherry Friedlander with a $2,000 check from proceeds from the sale of his DVD "It Took A Thief To Stop A Thief." "We hear a lot about homeland security, yet most homes in America are sitting ducks for deranged intruders, drug addicts and burglars," he says. "Our homes are much more likely to be broken into by thieves than gassed by terrorists, so duct tape won't help." The master break-in-artist advocates applying an ounce more of security to protect the most precious jewels in any home -- children -- from being stolen by deranged drifters, alluding to how Elizabeth Smart was snatched. Shaw calls the average home "an open house invitation" to criminals and will recommend steps homeowners must take. Shaw will also pledge to "A Child Is Missing" part of proceeds from his upcoming film "All For Nothin'," about how he and his father, a genius inventor, took opposite paths in life. "A Child Is Missing accepts this donation on behalf of the 857,000 children that went missing last year," according to Friedlander. "This will help us to continue to give this program free to law enforcement everywhere so they can help save the lives of children who go missing every 40 seconds." The organization assists law enforcement in early recovery of missing children through a high-tech phone system that sends out 1,000 phone calls in less than 5 minutes. CONTACT: Glen Calder, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 16, or GCalder@transmediagorup.com, for Walter T. Shaw