Programmed factory worker to steal books (5)
I believe the answer is:
robot
'programmed factory worker' is the definition.
'steal books' is the wordplay.
'steal' becomes 'rob' (robbing is a kind of stealing).
'books' becomes 'ot' (abbreviation for Old Testament).
'rob'+'ot'='ROBOT'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for robot that I've seen before include "Computer-driven entity" , "Mechanism that moves automatically" , "Automaton or sci-fi creature" , "Humanoid machine" , "Unpaid worker" .)