sneak thief

American  

noun

1. a burglar who sneaks into houses through open doors, windows, etc.

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sneak thief British  

noun

1. a person who steals paltry articles from premises, which he enters through open doors, windows, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sneak thief

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

“A lowlife sneak thief,” he railed on the app Nextdoor, informing his neighbors of the incident.

From New York Times

I crept back into the basement like a highly skilled sneak thief and then proceeded to listen to the most calming music I know: the Beatles.

From Literature

I stare at the names and I think about how I got them, and I'm not proud of myself for being a sneak thief.

From Literature

He found that slipping about the street under cover like a sneak thief was much against his grain, and he was nervous.

From Project Gutenberg

Yep—a sneak thief they'd pinched a couple of years back; didn't know where he was, but the prints seemed to fit him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• thief