petty criminal
Minor offense committer
A petty criminal commits minor offenses—shoplifting, vandalism, small-time theft, drug possession—rather than serious felonies.
The term suggests someone whose crimes are nuisances rather than dangers: He was just a petty criminal, not some violent offender.
Petty criminals cycle through local courts and county jails rather than state prisons.
Thief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
- vandalWillful property destroyer
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- graffiti artistSpray-paint muralist, often illegal
fare dodger · poacher · panhandler · squatter · loiterer · scalper · bootlegger · moonshiner
Stealing store merchandise
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
- vandalismWillful property damage
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
jaywalking · loitering · fare evasion · public intoxication · disorderly conduct · pilfering · littering · curfew violation
Violent young criminal
- ruffianViolent, lawless person
- hooliganViolent young troublemaker
- thugViolent criminal
- miscreantEvildoer or villain
delinquent · troublemaker · lowlife · crook · hood · roughneck · punk · ne'er-do-well
Lesser criminal charge
- citationMention of a source
- fineAcceptable in quality
- probationSupervised trial period
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
arrest · booking · bail · public defender · plea bargain · sentencing · parole · record
Taking something swiftly
- filchingStealing small items
- pilferingMinor, sneaky theft
- nickingSmall cuts or thefts
- boostingIncreasing force or level
snatching · lifting · pocketing · palming · sleight of hand · distraction · smash and grab · dine and dash
pickpocket
Thief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
- vandalWillful property destroyer
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
graffiti artist · fare dodger · poacher · panhandler · squatter · loiterer · scalper · bootlegger · moonshiner · hustler
shoplifting
Stealing store merchandise
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
- vandalismWillful property damage
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
graffiti · jaywalking · loitering · fare evasion · public intoxication · disorderly conduct · pilfering · littering · curfew violation · panhandling
hoodlum
Violent young criminal
miscreant · delinquent · troublemaker · lowlife · crook · hood · roughneck · punk · ne'er-do-well · scofflaw
misdemeanor
Lesser criminal charge
community service · arrest · booking · bail · public defender · plea bargain · sentencing · parole · record · recidivism
swiping
Taking something swiftly
boosting · snatching · lifting · pocketing · palming · sleight of hand · distraction · smash and grab · dine and dash · five-finger discount
- delinquentsjuvenile delinquent, juvenile offender, young offender, youth offender, delinquent
petty criminalcriminal mastermind
Genius orchestrating illegal schemes
crime lord · kingpin · crime boss · mastermind · mob boss
petty criminalstraight arrow
Honest, principled person
good citizen · pillar of the community · police officer · judge · law enforcer
petty criminalpillar of society
Esteemed, upstanding community member
dignitary · notable · power broker · elite · magnate
petty, criminal, pettiness, pettier, pettiest, crime, crimes, criminals, criminality