Original: The actions of police or detectives attempting to prevent or solve the crimes may also be chronicled, but are not the main focus of the story.
Simplified: The Dortmunder stories of Donald E. Westlake are very funny tales where unusual thefts happen; in another story, Dortmunders gang steals the same gem several times, steals an entire branch bank, and kidnaps someone from an asylum by driving a stolen train onto the property.