Thieving

Thieving is a members only skill which allows players to obtain coins and items by stealing from market stalls, chests, or by pickpocketing non-player characters. This skill also allows players to unlock doors and disarm traps.

Pickpocketing


This is the act of walking up to an NPC and right clicking them, then selecting Pickpocket. If successful, you will gain thieving experience and possibly coins or various items. However, it is possible for the NPC to notice a pickpocket, in which case the NPC will yell "What do you think you're doing!", or Master Farmer says: "Cor blimey mate, what are yer doing in me pockets?" or some other surprised saying and stun you for four seconds, which will take off a couple of your Hitpoints. Because of the possibility for damage, it is recommended that players bring food. The equipment that a player wears does not affect the success rate, aside from H.A.M. clothing or Gloves of silence. However, equipping a bow without arrows makes it impossible to accidentally attack an NPC.

Stalls
There are a large number of stalls throughout RuneScape, although many of them are in the Ardougne Market. To steal from a stall, simply click on it. The player will then steal the item, or if he is in the line of sight of the stall owner or any nearby guards, he may be prevented by stealing and attacked. Because of this, it is recommended that the player thieve from a side of a stall that is well-hidden from the owner and guards. When the item is stolen, it will take a short period of time to respawn. It should be noted you may not buy from or sell to the stall owner for 5 minutes after last theft from their stall type.

In RuneScape Classic, the player has to wait 24 hours. Also in RuneScape Classic, the baker in Ardougne will not know if a player steals his cakes.

Chests
There are chests scattered throughout RuneScape. Some chests will have traps on them, to disarm them using the thieving skill, right-click on the chest and select "Search for traps" to allow you character to disarm the trap and obtain the items inside. After a player thieves from a chest, he will need to wait for a short period of time before he can again thieve from the chest.

Doors
Certain doors in RuneScape can not be opened by players unless the lock is picked. In order to pick a lock, right-click on a door and select "Pick Lock". If the player has the required thieving level, the door will then be opened. Some doors will require a lockpick to successfully pick the lock.

Training Strategies

 * For any level, pickpocket 'No Fingers' in the Tower of Life south of Ardougne. He drops triangle sandwiches, and only hits for 1 damage.
 * for levels 15 and up pickpocketing HAM members can prove to be profitable because you can get clue scrolls while pickpocketing them
 * From level 1-10, pickpocket men in Edgeville (3 coins/pick) (there are many men in the building that is north of bank).
 * From level 10-20, steal cakes from the Baker's Stall in Ardougne.
 * From level 20-35, steal silk from the Silk Stalls in Ardougne. After five minutes of not stealing from these stalls, you can sell the silk back to the merchant for 60 coins each (cannot be sold noted).
 * From level 35-45, the Fur Stall in East Ardougne will prove a faster source of experience and coins than the Silk Stall. After stealing a Grey wolf fur, these can be banked, and later sold to Baraek in Varrock, who will buy each pelt for 120 coins each (or 150 coins each if the Ring of Charos is equipped).
 * From level 45-55, pickpocket Master Farmers
 * For levels 65+, pickpocket Menaphites (with an offensive blackjack for best results).
 * From level 55-80, pickpocket Knights of Ardougne.
 * From level 80-99, pickpocket Paladins in Ardougne.
 * From level 71-99, play the Pyramid Plunder minigame.
 * Playing the Sorceress's Garden minigame can be a useful source of both thieving and Farming experience, as well as a possible source of herbs. It is also the only method of training where no damage is received to Hitpoints, so may be a useful training alternative for those with low hitpoint levels.

Tips

 * When pickpocketing, a failed attempt results in the character being stunned for a few seconds. While stunned you may not move or pickpocket.  However, you can drop unwanted items AND more importantly you can eat food in order to regain some health.  Therefore, it is highly recommend waiting until you are stunned before you eat food to regain hitpoints.
 * Certain locations are better suited to thieving than others. For instance if your respawn point is set to Falador, the Faladorian guards make excellent marks for practicing your thieving.  Just divest yourself of all items and pickpocket away.  When you eventually die, you'll be respawned in the Falador square.  Due to its proximity to bank, the Draynor Village farmer's market is an excellent location to thieve.  Note that you WILL want to use food here.
 * Although it is a pain, don't forget to thieve from the master farmers. You will eventually require the seeds in order to progress in Farming.  Although most seeds have little sellable value, some of the herb seeds can be quite valuable (e.g. Ranarr seed).

Temporary boosts

 * A Bandit's Brew, purchased at the desert bandit camp for 650 coins will boost thieving by one.
 * A yellow spicy stew has the potential to raise or lower the thieving level by up to 6 levels.
 * The summer sqi'rk juice from the Sorceress's Garden minigame increases Thieving level by 3 levels.
 * The special move of a magpie will boost thieving by two.
 * Gloves of silence improve the success rate of pickpocketing. Gloves of silence are automaticaly destroyed after around 50 times getting caught while pickpocketing. However, they can be repaired by using dark kebbit fur on them with a needle, thread, and knife.

Random Events
There are four different random events that are specific to thieving.
 * Watchman - A watchman may attempt to arrest a player and begin to attack him or her. This event has been discontinued.
 * Poison Gas - When thieving from a chest, a poison cloud may appear, which will poison your character.
 * Pillory - It is possible that your character will be teleported to a pillory in Yanille, Varrock, or Seer's Village, where shapes must be matched in order to pick the lock and return to where your character was thieving. It is possible for players to throw food at the trapped player, although it wont do any damage.
 * When picking pockets in the HAM Dungeon, it is possible to get slightly concussed from the blow (Higher agility prevents this from happening as often). Get concussed 3 times, and you will be knocked out and thrown out of the dungeon.

Thieving Minigames


There are a number of minigames which are based on or include Thieving.
 * Pyramid Plunder - the desert city Sophanem has a pyramid where you can thieve for artifacts. As you get further into the Pyramid, higher thieving is required but it brings increasing amounts of Thieving experience. One of the fastest methods to train Thieving.
 * Black Jack - Another Thieving activity in the desert.
 * Rogue's Den - Traverse a maze with Thieving and Agility obstacles, earning modest experience in each skill, and also the chance of gaining Rogue equipment. Perhaps more interesting for thieves is to open the safes in the dungeon. Good for experience and for the gems that you obtain as loot.
 * Sorceress's Garden - An interesting game where you dodge guards and try to get fruit. Requires patience, a bit of skill, and experience, but yields excellent experience, with moderate Farming experience also gained. Has four levels each giving increased experience at levels 1, 25, 45, and 65. Bring empty beer glasses (can be obtained for free at the shelves in the sorcerer's house). Also, a possible alternative source of Herb collecting.