pickpocket
Crowded subway menace
A pickpocket is a thief who steals from people's pockets or bags in public places, typically without the victim noticing: The crowded subway was full of pickpockets.
The verb pickpocket means to steal in this manner: Someone pickpocketed my wallet at the festival.
The crime requires dexterity and distraction rather than force.
Quick and light-moving
- deftSkillful and quick
- light-fingeredGiven to petty theft
- dexterousPhysically skilled, agile
- adeptHighly capable, well-versed
sleight · agile · dexterity · artful · slick · practiced · skilled · precise
Historical term for thief
- pilfererOne who steals trifles
- filcherOne who steals
- dipBrief immersion or condiment
- wireThin metallic conductor
snatcher · kleptomaniac · shoplifter · burglar · footpad · larcenist · purloiner · sneak thief
Secretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undetectedNot discovered yet
- sneakyStealthily deceptive
elusive · stealthy · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · silent · sly · clandestine · shadowy
Small case for currency
- purseBag for personal items
- billfoldFlat pocket money case
- handbagPortable container for belongings
- wristwatchPortable timekeeping accessory
smartphone · jewelry · cash · credit card · passport · money clip · fanny pack · clutch
Filled beyond comfort
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
- touristTraveler visiting attractions
- metroUrban rail transit
street · bazaar · train station · bus · plaza · festival · queue · escalator
nimble
Quick and light-moving
- deftSkillful and quick
- light-fingeredGiven to petty theft
- dexterousPhysically skilled, agile
adept · sleight · agile · dexterity · artful · slick · practiced · skilled · precise · subtle
cutpurse
Historical term for thief
wire · snatcher · kleptomaniac · shoplifter · burglar · footpad · larcenist · purloiner · sneak thief · dipper
furtive
Secretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undetectedNot discovered yet
sneaky · elusive · stealthy · inconspicuous · unobtrusive · silent · sly · clandestine · shadowy · secretive
wallet
Small case for currency
wristwatch · smartphone · jewelry · cash · credit card · passport · money clip · fanny pack · clutch · tote bag
crowded
Filled beyond comfort
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
- touristTraveler visiting attractions
metro · street · bazaar · train station · bus · plaza · festival · queue · escalator · rush hour
sleight-of-hand
Skillful manual deception
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- jostlePush roughly against
stall · brush · fan · fingering · dipping · stalling · screening · snatching
- thievesthief, robber, burglar, shoplifter, cat burglar
- British CrimeJack the Ripper, Scotland Yard, Old Bailey, Met Police, Burke and Hare
- pickpocketscutpurse, dip, purse snatcher, bag snatcher, snatcher
- theftstealing, larceny, steal, burglary, robbery
- criminelsbandit, assassin, gangster
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
pickpocketarmed robber
Thief with weapon
mugger · home invader · carjacker · bank robber · burglar
pickpocketphilanthropist
Donor to charitable causes
benefactor · donor · giver · almsgiver · Good Samaritan
pickpocketsecurity guard
Hired protector of property
police officer · bodyguard · victim · mark · philanthropist
- reverse pickpocketingSecretly adding to pockets