One motif prevalent throughout the narrative is an error in judgment committed by a character based upon faulty assumptions. Each of the three initial “operations” planned by Griffin or his posse is based upon an inaccurate assumption. By definition, any detailed strategy based upon fallacious information is destined to fail. One example is Operation Stakeout, the elaborate surveillance of Egan’s home based on the false belief that, since the principal set off the metal detector at the courthouse, he must be the person holding the Super Bowl ring. When Logan spies a jewelry case in Egan’s kitchen, their suspicions appear to be confirmed. Griffin illegally leaves his house to confront Egan at the jewelry store because he assumes his friends are not up to the task. The sum of these judgments, each based upon incorrect assumptions, is the complete house arrest of Griffin, who must wear a police ankle bracelet, for which his parents pay $39 a day.

Gordon Korman demonstrates, however, that the young people who make these mistakes are following the example of adults, particularly authority figures, who likewise make pivotal, harmful errors in judgment based upon faulty assumptions. The most obvious example is the assumption by Egan that Griffin’s retainer found in the trophy case means that he stole the Super Bowl ring.