The Dortmunder stories of Donald E. Westlake are very funny tales where unusual thefts happen ; in another story , Dortmunder 's 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 . For instance , the Dortmunder stories of Donald E. Westlake are highly comic tales involving unusual thefts by a gang of offbeat characters -- in different stories Dortmunder 's 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 .