thieves
Those who pilfer
Thieves is the plural of thief—people who steal.
The word appears in contexts ranging from petty crime to organized robbery: Thieves broke into the warehouse overnight.
The phrase thick as thieves describes people who are very close or conspiratorial, like partners in crime sharing secrets.
Illegal entry to commit crime
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
pilferage · looting · carjacking · housebreaking · mugging · break-in · holdup · stickup
Move with stealth
- shadowLight blocked by object
- creepStealthy, slow movement
- tiptoeWalk on foot-fronts
- lurkHide while observing
skulk · prowl · slip · hide · elude · furtive · stealthy · undetected
One who breaks in
- robberOne who steals by force
- banditArmed roadside thief
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
- shoplifterOne who steals merchandise
mugger · pirate · outlaw · crook · felon · gangster · racketeer · highwayman
Professional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
embezzler · forger · charlatan · impostor · hustler · cheat · trickster · confidence game
Legendary forest-dwelling archer
- Bonnie and ClydeDepression-era outlaw couple
- Artful DodgerCrafty child criminal
- caperPrank or pickled bud
- lootStolen valuables
Fagin · swag · booty · heist film · cat burglar · Ocean's Eleven
Utter loss of hope
- povertySevere lack of resources
- greedExcessive desire for wealth
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- opportunityFavorable circumstance for advancement
addiction · thrill · necessity · hunger · hardship · inequality · exploitation · coercion
burglary
Illegal entry to commit crime
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- pickpocketingTheft from pockets
- shopliftingStealing store merchandise
heist · pilferage · looting · carjacking · housebreaking · mugging · break-in · holdup · stickup · boosting
sneak
Move with stealth
lurk · skulk · prowl · slip · hide · elude · furtive · stealthy · undetected · silent
burglar
One who breaks in
- robberOne who steals by force
- banditArmed roadside thief
- pickpocketThief who steals carried items
shoplifter · mugger · pirate · outlaw · crook · felon · gangster · racketeer · highwayman · cat burglar
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
scammer · embezzler · forger · charlatan · impostor · hustler · cheat · trickster · confidence game · sleight of hand
Robin Hood
Legendary forest-dwelling archer
- Bonnie and ClydeDepression-era outlaw couple
- Artful DodgerCrafty child criminal
- caperPrank or pickled bud
Fagin · loot · swag · booty · heist film · cat burglar · Ocean's Eleven
desperation
Utter loss of hope
opportunity · addiction · thrill · necessity · hunger · hardship · inequality · exploitation · coercion · kleptomania
- roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
- DanteDivine Comedy, Inferno, Dante, Paradiso, Beatrice
- infernohellfire, hellscape, brimstone, sulfur, limbo
- raidersraiders, marauders, pillagers, plunderers, looters
- Malebolgeflatterers, panderers, seducers, hypocrites, falsifiers
- Arabian NightsAladdin, Scheherazade, Ali Baba, Arabian Nights, Sinbad
thievespolice
Civil law enforcement
law enforcement · cops · officers · guards · security guards
thievesgivers
Those who donate
donors · benefactors · philanthropists · returners · restorers
- 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