cat burglar

American  

noun

1. a burglar who breaks into buildings by climbing through upstairs windows, across roofs, etc., especially with great stealth and agility.

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cat burglar British  

noun

1. a burglar who enters buildings by climbing through upper windows, skylights, etc

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Etymology

Origin of cat burglar

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

A prolific cat burglar has been caught red handed after stealing anything she can get her paws on.

From BBC

“Death Prefers Blondes” follows a teenage glitteratus, Margo Manning, who moonlights as a cat burglar alongside a team of fabulous young drag queens.

From New York Times

He is a cat burglar - a kleptomaniac kitty who apparently cannot be reformed.

From BBC

They are worse than the solitary crooks who occasionally slink past our homes because they are ubiquitous, invisible and more elusive than even the wiliest cat burglar.

From Seattle Times

The colt had never really sat behind horses, preferring to steal to the front like a cat burglar and dare the authorities to run him down.

From New York Times