Edwin Sutherland (1937) offered pioneering insights
into the behaviour of professional criminals by publishing
an annotated account written by a professional thief.
Unlike the person who engages in crime only once or
twice, professional thieves make a business of stealing.
They devote their entire working time to planning and
executing crimes and sometimes travel across the nation
to pursue their “professional duties.” Like people in regular
occupations, professional thieves consult with their
colleagues concerning the demands of work, thus becoming
part of a subculture of similarly occupied individuals.
They exchange information on possible places to burglarize,
on outlets for unloading stolen goods, and on ways
of securing bail bonds if arrested.