a person who steals, esp. secretly or without open force; one guilty of theft or larceny.

noun

bandit , burglar , cat burglar , cheat , clip * , criminal , crook , defalcator , embezzler , heister , highway robber , hijacker , holdup artist , housebreaker , kleptomaniac , larcener , larcenist , lifter , moonlighter , mugger , owl * , pickpocket , pilferer , pirate , plunderer , porch climber , prowler , punk * , purloiner , robber , scrounger , shoplifter , sniper , spider , stealer , stickup artist , swindler , highwayman , defaulter , depredator , felon , filcher , ganef , gangster , grifter , looter , peculator , picaroon , plagiarist , poacher , rascal , rustler