thievery
Taking without permission
Thievery is the act or practice of stealing.
The word carries a slightly literary or old-fashioned tone compared to plain *theft*, and often suggests repeated or habitual stealing rather than a single incident: The shop owner blamed his losses on employee thievery.
It can extend to any form of dishonest taking: corporate thievery, intellectual thievery.
Illegal entry to commit crime
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
- pilferageMinor theft of goods
embezzlement · purloining · filching · snatching · kleptomania · boosting · shrinkage · peculation
Opening secured vaults illegally
- vaultSecure storage chamber
- caperPrank or pickled bud
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
score · loot · crew · fence · inside job · stickup · armed robbery · holdup
Theft during disorder
- pillagingForcible theft during conflict
- raidingSudden attack for plunder
- sackingDismissal from employment
- ransackingSearching while wrecking
marauding · plundering · despoiling · booty · spoils · conquest · viking · piracy
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- payoffCulminating benefit received
patronage · cronyism · malfeasance · extortion · blackmail · racketeering · embezzlement · skimming
Moving to avoid detection
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
stealthy · creeping · shadowing · evasion · undetected · slipping · catlike · silent
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
counterfeiting · grift · con · hustle · cheating · misrepresentation · falsification · flimflam
One who breaks in
- robberOne who steals by force
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
- kleptomaniacOne who steals compulsively
pilferer · bandit · crook · felon · cat burglar · mugger · highwayman · rustler
burglary
Illegal entry to commit crime
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
pilferage · embezzlement · purloining · filching · snatching · kleptomania · boosting · shrinkage · peculation · defalcation
safecracking
Opening secured vaults illegally
- vaultSecure storage chamber
- caperPrank or pickled bud
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
getaway · score · loot · crew · fence · inside job · stickup · armed robbery · holdup · escapade
looting
Theft during disorder
- pillagingForcible theft during conflict
- raidingSudden attack for plunder
- sackingDismissal from employment
ransacking · marauding · plundering · despoiling · booty · spoils · conquest · viking · piracy · privateering
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
payoff · patronage · cronyism · malfeasance · extortion · blackmail · racketeering · embezzlement · skimming · slush fund
sneaking
Moving to avoid detection
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- covertIntentionally concealed
furtive · stealthy · creeping · shadowing · evasion · undetected · slipping · catlike · silent · skulking
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
forgery · counterfeiting · grift · con · hustle · cheating · misrepresentation · falsification · flimflam · bunco
burglar
One who breaks in
- robberOne who steals by force
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
kleptomaniac · pilferer · bandit · crook · felon · cat burglar · mugger · highwayman · rustler · poacher
thieverybuying
Obtaining through payment
earning · inheritance · purchase · purchasing · gift-giving
thieverygenerosity
Readiness to give freely
giving · honesty · charity · philanthropy · donating
- thick as thievesIntimately allied and loyal
- honor among thievesCriminals' mutual trust principle
- honour among thievesMutual trust between outlaws
- horse thievesThose who steal steeds
- identity thievesThose who steal personas
- jewel thievesThose who steal gemstones