Most schools of crtminological theory do not depict persistent in volvement in property crime as rational economic activity similar to other more conventional income-producing endeavors. Yet, the no tion of earning one's living by illicit means frequently appears in the criminological literature, notably in discussions of "professional crim inality." This paper presents a synthesis of ideas drawn from crimi nological theory, economics, and the sociology of occupations in an attempt to generate an alternative explanation of crime as work; this alternative view is termed the "rationalistic opportunity perspective."