Ten Points for Style — Walter Jon Williams

A trilogy which includes: The Crown Jewels, House of Shards and Rock of Ages.

The Crown Jewels: Peleng is a planet ripe for the plucking, and Drake Maijstral is an Allowed Burglar rated in the Top Ten by the Imperial Sporting Commission. But what should be a simple case of breaking-and-plundering turns into an intergalactic crisis when Maijstral steals something so rare, so valuable, so utterly desirable, that everyone wants it- everyone including well-armed Imperial spies, gun-toting human militias, a homicidal maniac with a very large sword, and a fanatical countess with a really, really nasty croquet habit.

Rock of Ages: In the sequel to The Crown Jewels, someone turns the tables on Drake Maijstral, the Human Constellation's number-one-rated Allowed Burglar, when Drake's father's coffin is stolen.

House of Shards: One obsessed cop. Two master thieves. A very small island in space. And The Greatest Treasure in the Empire.
Silverside Station is a small asteroid resort catering to the rich, the famous, and the celebrated- but is it big enough for both Drake Maijstral (the devious hero of The Crown Jewels) and Geoff Fu George (rated the galaxy's top burglar by the Imperial Sporting Commission), both of whom have set their sights on the Eltdown Shard, a fabulous jewel that captures the light of a dying sun, a jewel that dangles around the comely throat of the Duchess Roberta, a beautiful and dashing heiress who clearly has plans of her own.
Mayhem and hilarity at the only possible result. House of Shards continues the droll adventures of Drake Maijstral- thief, devout coward, and reluctant hero- as he schemes his way to the top of the ratings.