The 26 year old Harold Lloyd is a kind of 20th century Odysseus in this film. He is unembraced by professional society (even though he belongs to it) just like Odysseus when he returned to Ithaca. He is a trained professional, but his pursuit of happiness through a loving relationship and meaningful work is denied him. Romance seems to be inaccessible to him in this film. Acceptance within the society that he was brought up in is also inaccessible. Thus the question, are crooks dishonest? If he is forced into dishonesty because the society that he belongs to turns its back on him, is he wrong to do that? The alternative is just to settle for mediocre jobs and barely pay the bills.