The point repeated often through this book is that burglars do not use the architectural features of most buildings at they were intended. Additional locks on the door are not much use if they can go through the wall, the ceiling or the floor. Chapters are spent discussing tunnels, roof jobs, and holing up within a Toys R Us. The book begins and ends with George Leonidas Leslie, an architect turned burglar.

Extraneously, the author rode along in LAPD helicopters, looking at street layouts but mostly gathering anecdotes. Also contained here are non-thorough discussions of what breaking and entering is, and how laws vary state by state. A large chapter is taken up with a discussion of amateur lock picking and the author's attempts to learn the skill - which has little to do with the title.

Several actual crimes are mentioned, but none in thorough detail. This book is better for it's bibliography.