“A thief entered a theatre. He stole the spotlight”

The theatre expression “to steal the spotlight” means to become the focus of attention. For example, a physically attractive actor can steal the spotlight from everyone else. The idiom does not involve the actual theft of a spotlight, but there have been several jokes.
   
“I aint a thief but i know how to steal the spotlight” was posted on Twitter on January 22, 2013. “If you steal the spotlight, you are a thief” was posted on Twitter on March 19, 2013.
 
“A thief entered a theatre. He stole the spotlight” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on October 21, 2017.
 
     
The Free Dictionary 
steal the spotlight
steal the show
To become the focus of attention.
I’m sorry, I was trying to listen to your speech, but your adorable little sister stole the show when she came prancing out here.
 
Twitter
Don Bara‏
@_Akakan
He stole the spotlight, Torchlight thief
6:24 AM - 24 Mar 2011
 
Twitter
SAUUUUUCEY‏
@GLiTCH_BOi
I aint a thief but i know how to steal the spotlight
8:15 PM - 22 Jan 2013
   
Twitter
Sarah A‏
@missaraha
If you steal the spotlight, you are a thief.
9:59 PM - 19 Mar 2013 from Lynnfield, MA
     
Twitter
Michael‏
@immichaelcurtis
I’m not a thief but I have been known to steal the spotlight
11:38 PM - 5 Jul 2014
 
Twitter
Sandeep‏
@sndpwrites
“Gurl are you a thief, cuz you totally steal the spotlight” #NailedIt
9:42 AM - 19 Oct 2015
   
Twitter
Sol ☀️‏
@disneypuppies
so the thief will be on the red carpet because she wants to steal the spotlight ndjskw lmao
1:49 PM - 13 Aug 2017
 
Reddit—Jokes
A thief entered a theatre…
submitted October 21, 2017 by UrNotMyDad_
He stole the spotlight