Professional Theft
an occupation requiring specialized skills, shared norms, and group recognition
Key techniques of professional thief
- wits
- “front” (confidence/appearance)
- talking ability
Amateur thief
someone who steals habitually but lacks professional techniques + training
How are professional theft techniques learned?
through association + education with professional thieves (no formal schools)
What gives professional thiefs status:
- skill
- financial success
- connections
- reputation
- recognition by others
Term “thief” within the underworld
an honorific title reserved for skilled, successful professionals
How do professional thieves view amateurs?
with contempt, disdain, detachment; amateurs are seen as incompetent + embarrassing
Consensus
shared attitudes, values, reactions, and norms among thieves
What is considered one of the worst violations among thieves?
informing (“squealing”) on other thieves
Why don’t professional thieves usually inform?
fear of loss of status, retaliation, exclusion, and strong loyalty to the group
How does consensus support continued criminal behavior?
it provides shared values and esprit de corps that sustain the thief’s career
Differential association
criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in + approve of crime
Isolation
thieves are primarily isoalted socially (functional segregation) not just geographically
Who decides who is a professional thief?
the group itself
Is professional theft “organized crime” in the journalistic sense?
No; there is no central boss or headquarters
In what sense is professional theft organized?
as an informal system with shared language, rules, traditions, and techniques
What forms the organization of professional thieves?
techniques + status + consensus + differential association
Single defining characteristic of a professional thief
recognition as a professional thief by other professional thieves
How is recognition related to status and differential association?
recognition is a combination of two characteristics: status and differential association
Two requirements for becoming a recognized professional thief
selection and tutelage
Tutelage
training + instruction by professional thieves
Selection
professionals choosing who is worthy of training
