Interesting Tricks for a Rogue to play?

Hello all! I recently played in a short campaign with a friend who used a thief rogue and it got me thinking about all the unique and clever ways a rogue can make themself useful. I'm not just talking skill monkeys with high numbers or crazy sneak attack damage, but simple strategies or tricks they can use to always have an answer prepared no matter what they're up against.

Whether you're think James Bond or McGuiver, that's the sort of problem solving I'm thinking of, not that you want to build either of these characters.

For example, my friend had been using ball bearing and caltrops to mess with enemy movement, but then he went and picked up a few manacles. Suddenly he's locking down enemy spell casters with very high DC to break handcuffs. He even connected one to a chain and used it as a makeshift leash for a very angry Guard Drake. Another time he convinced a crime boss we were set to rob that he'd been called in by one of his subordinates due to a security risk (he was a high charisma character with the actor feat) and while he didn't convince them to accept his help, did fool them into believing his story. BUT THEN, he faked a stomach bug, changed into a pre made disguise in the bathroom, and tricked everyone into thinking he's actually just another guard.

A lot of this comes down to the player using what he has available and being creative, so I'm curious to see what mundane items you've turned into amazing tools or strategies you've employed in or out of combat to give your team an advantage?