How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He kept clear of the hoodlums, torpedoes, and thieves on their professional side. In that regard he was smarter than I, for I somehow got to be party to a robbery. (7.18)
"Torpedo" was a slang term for a hired gun. Augie and Simon both hang out at the poolroom, in close proximity to "professional" criminals, but only Augie gets to know them as criminals. We're looking at you, Al Capone.
Quote #2
In another direction, the criminals. Except that I never thought of them as such, but as boys I knew in the poolroom and saw also at school, dancing the double-toddle in the gym at lunch hour, or in the hotdog parlors. I touched all sides, and nobody knew where I belonged. I had no good idea of that myself. (7.25)
This is a constant problem throughout Augie's life—he doesn't know where he belongs, and he finds himself anywhere and everywhere, including at the scene of several crimes. In fairness to him, he doesn't aspire to live the life of a criminal, and crime doesn't hold special attraction for him.
Quote #3
Gorman was very bright, handsome and slim, clever at basketball. His father, who owned a tire shop, was well off, and there was no apparent reason for him to steal. (7.27)
Unlike Augie, Gorman is very deliberate about his criminal choices. He commits crimes because he wants to commit them. Desire, not need, drives him. He's attracted to crime, and he might be tempted by the danger of getting caught. Let's see how well that'll play out for him.