The stainless steel rat

by Harry Harrison

"The stainless steel rat" by Harry Harrison is a science fiction novel first published in 1957. Meet James Bolivar diGriz, alias "Slippery Jim"—a charming master thief, con artist, and criminal mastermind operating in the far future. He's an expert at bank robbery, disguise, and martial arts, who justifies his crimes as harmless entertainment. But when the mysterious Special Corps outsmarts him, this self-rationalized rogue faces an unexpected proposition: join the organization and use his criminal genius to fight crime instead of committing it.