thief-taker
Paid fugitive hunter
A thief-taker was a person who recovered stolen goods or captured criminals for a reward, common in England before organized police forces existed.
The role was notoriously corrupt—many thief-takers worked both sides, fencing stolen property and turning in thieves only when profitable.
The term now appears mainly in historical fiction set in 18th-century London.
One fleeing authorities
- manhuntSearch for a suspect
- captureTake into custody
- rewardPayment for service
- pursuitAct of chasing something
tracker · apprehension · recovery · warrant · informant · skiptracer · bail bondsman · extradition
Guards of property
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- underworldRealm of the departed
- handbillPrinted sheet for distribution
reward · apprehension · gaol · criminal network · advertisement · pursuit · London · blood money
Soldier fighting for pay
- bountyReward for capture
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- enforcerOne who ensures compliance
freelance · hired · gun-for-hire · operative · muscle · vigilante · retriever · commission
Corrupt payment for influence
- extortionObtaining through threats
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- entrapmentDefense against induced criminality
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
fabrication · perjury · blackmail · framing · kickback · profiteering · exploitation · underhanded
fugitive
One fleeing authorities
pursuit · tracker · apprehension · recovery · warrant · informant · skiptracer · bail bondsman · extradition · retrieval
watchmen
Guards of property
- constableLow-ranking peace officer
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- underworldRealm of the departed
handbill · reward · apprehension · gaol · criminal network · advertisement · pursuit · London · blood money · prosecution
mercenary
Soldier fighting for pay
enforcer · freelance · hired · gun-for-hire · operative · muscle · vigilante · retriever · commission · fee
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- extortionObtaining through threats
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- entrapmentDefense against induced criminality
collusion · fabrication · perjury · blackmail · framing · kickback · profiteering · exploitation · underhanded · dishonesty
thief-takerthief
One who steals
criminal · outlaw · fugitive · highwayman · burglar
thief-takerconstable
Low-ranking peace officer
police officer · law officer · magistrate · sheriff · watchman
thief-takerreformer
Agent of institutional improvement
crusader · public servant · idealist · incorruptible · altruist
thief, taker, thieves, thievish, thievery, thieving, take, takes, taken