Thieving

The Old School RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:ThievingThe RuneScape Classic Wiki also has an article on: classicrsw:Thieving

This article is about the Thieving skill. For information on training Thieving, see Thieving training.

Thieving
Release date	30 April 2002 (Update)
Members only	Yes
Statistics
Minimum level to be ranked	15 (as of 27 Jan 2023)
Players with 99	204,644 (as of 27 Jan 2023)
Players with 120	31,352 (as of 27 Jan 2023)
Players with 200M XP	8,659 (as of 27 Jan 2023)
Infobox • Talk page

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

1-49 thieving level-up music

50-99 thieving level-up music

The current minimum requirement to be ranked (at approximately rank 895,102) on the HiScores for Thieving is level 15. As of 27 January 2023, there are 204,644 current members that have achieved level 99 in Thieving. There are 31,352 current members that have achieved level 120 in Thieving.

A player successfully pickpockets an Al Kharid warrior

Pickpocketing

Player is stunned by an Al Kharid warrior when pickpocketing failed

This is the act of walking up to an NPC, right-clicking them, and then selecting Pickpocket. Successful pickpockets will result in Thieving experience and possibly coins or various items. The higher the thieving level, the more NPCs the player is able to pickpocket from.

You can make attackable NPCs have a left-click pickpocket option by going into the "Choose Option" Menu setting and change "NPC attack option" to Right-click or Hidden. This greatly speeds up pickpocketing. However, equipping a salamander without the tar needed or a (cross)bow without projectiles makes it impossible to accidentally attack an NPC.

The use of Crystal Mask gives +15% to pickpocketing chance for five minutes and gives a chance to not be stunned by NPCs on being caught for a pickpocketing attempt. Additionally, Light Form can be used along with Crystal Mask to double its effects.

However, it is possible for the NPC to notice a pickpocket, in which case the NPC will stun the player for a few seconds and cause damage. This damage is not classified as melee damage, and Protect from Melee or Deflect Melee do not prevent the damage. It is possible to die from retaliation alone.

The direction that the NPC is facing does not have any effect on the chance of success of the pickpocket.

If a player attempts to pickpocket an attackable NPC just before its death, the player thieving it will get a message saying: "Too late; they're dead."

Items that increase success are an Ardougne cloak (although the Ardougne cloak 1 and 2 enhance pickpocketing only in Ardougne), Gloves of silence or the Trahaearn exoskeleton set. Players with 62 or higher Summoning may choose to summon an Abyssal lurker familiar and use Abyssal Lurker scroll (Abyssal Stealth)s, which provide a +4 visible boost to Thieving.

The defensive ability Freedom can also be used to remove the stun caused by failing pickpocketing allowing one to move but not pickpocket sooner.

Having the Sticky Fingers relic power active at the mysterious monolith at the Archaeology Guild will speed up the rate at which you automatically pickpocket by 50%.

Thievable non-player characters

After completing the Lost Her Marbles miniquest from Buyers and Cellars, the loot from NPC's level 40 and below is increased. Men and women have 20 coin drops, farmers improve to several low level seed types (cabbage, marigold, tomato), and master farmers have an improved high-level seed rate.

NPC		Level	XP	Stun time	Damage
Ghotistix			43	8 ticks	30 + 3% of current life points
Man		1	8.0	8 ticks	10 life points
Gullible tourist		1	29.5	8 ticks	40 + 3% of current life points
Pompous merchant		1	8.0	8 ticks	10 life points
Foppish Pierre		1	8.0	8 ticks	10 life points
Farmer		10	14.5	8 ticks	10 + 3% of current life points
H.A.M. Member (female)		15	18.5	7 ticks	10-30 life points
Guard (H.A.M.)		20	22.2	7 ticks	10-30 life points
H.A.M. Member (male)		20	22.2	7 ticks	10-30 life points
Al Kharid warrior		25	26.0	8 ticks	20 life points
Warrior woman		25	26.0	8 ticks	20 life points
Cave goblin (Dorgesh-Kaan)		36	40.0	8 ticks	10 life points
Master Farmer		38	43.0	8 ticks	30 life points
Guard		40	46.8	8 ticks	20 life points
Guard (Edgeville)		40	46.8	8 ticks	20 life points
Port Sarim guard		40	46.8	8 ticks	20 life points
Guard (Varrock)		40	46.8	8 ticks	20 life points
Guard (Ardougne)		40	46.8	8 ticks	20 life points
Druid (Garden of Kharid)		42	58	8 ticks	20 + 3% of current life points
Bearded Pollnivnian bandit		45	65.0	8 ticks	20 life points
Fremennik citizen		45	65.0	8 ticks	20 life points
Menaphite marketeer		46	29.5	8 ticks	40 + 3% of current life points
Bandit (Kharidian Desert Bandit Camp)		53	79.4	8 ticks	30 life points
Bandit (Pollnivneach)		55	84.3	8 ticks	50 life points
Knight of Ardougne		55	84.3	8 ticks	~3.4-3.7% of current life points
Menaphite Thug		65	137.5	8 ticks	50 life points
Watchman		65	137.5	8 ticks	30 life points
Monkey knife fighter		70	150.0	8 ticks	20 life points
Paladin		70	151.8	8 ticks	30 + 3% of current life points
Gnome child		75	198.3	8 ticks	~3% of current life points
Gnome woman		75	198.3	8 ticks	~3% of current life points
Gnome		75	198.3	8 ticks	~3% of current life points
Hero		80	273.3	10 ticks	40 life points
Crux Eqal Knight		83	277.5	8 ticks	80 + 3% of current life points
Elf		85	353.3	10 ticks	50 + 3% of current life points
Trader		90	556.5	8 ticks	10 life points

Auto-pickpocketing

Once a player starts to pickpocket an NPC, they will repeat the pickpocket action automatically without the need to click again. The action is interrupted if they get caught, or if their inventory is too full to hold any additional loot. Certain NPCs, including the gullible tourist and Foppish Pierre, are not subject to auto-pickpocketing and must be clicked each time.

With the exception of pickpocketing in the Rogues' Castle, the Arc, or in Prifddinas, players may continue to pickpocket other NPCs in the area indefinitely, regardless of the number of times they have been caught.

The Sticky Fingers relic power, requiring level 84 Archaeology, speeds up the rate at which players automatically pickpocket from 3 ticks (every 1.8 seconds) to 2 ticks (every 1.2 seconds).

Lock-out period

Unlike most NPCs who can be stolen from, some pickpocketing targets located in the Rogues' Castle, the Arc, or in Prifddinas operate with a lock-out period; after being caught a certain amount of times, the player will have to either wait or change location before being able to pickpocket the same group of NPCs again.

Wilderness

Auto pickpocketing rogues until being caught

Rogues' Castle in levels 50-54 Wilderness is occupied by the following NPCs. The pickpocket action automatically repeats until the player is caught.

After the player has been caught once, they will not be able to pickpocket any more rogues on that castle floor for 2 minutes. During this time, the rogues' pickpocket option will disappear, and a red circle will appear above their heads. Players may pickpocket rogues on another floor of the castle during this time, governed by a separate cool down.

NPC		Level	XP	Stun time	Damage
Rogue		32	12	0 seconds	N/A
Rogue Enforcer		62	35	0 seconds	N/A
Rogue Captain		92	125	0 seconds	N/A

The Arc

Waiko and Cyclosis are occupied by the following NPCs. The pickpocket action automatically repeats until the player is caught.

After the player has been caught three times, they will not be able to pickpocket any more NPCs on the island for 5 minutes. During this time, the NPCs' pickpocket option will disappear, and a red circle will appear above their heads.

NPC		Level	XP	Stun time	Damage
Waiko islander		86	40	0 seconds	N/A
Cyclops (Cyclosis)		88	42	0 seconds	N/A

Prifddinas

Prifddinas is occupied by various workers who roam around their respective Clan districts. The pickpocket action automatically repeats until the player is caught.

After the player has been caught three times, they will no longer be able to pickpocket the NPCs from that respective Clan for 20 minutes (15 minutes when Totem of crystal is active); during this time, the workers' pickpocket option will disappear and a red circle will appear above their heads. However, an elf thieving reset token can be used to make the clan forget. Players may pickpocket workers from another Clan's district during this time, as each clan is governed by a separate cooldown.

The base experience rate is increased by 20% if the Voice of Seren is active in that worker's district.

NPC		Level	XP	Stun time	Damage
Iorwerth worker		91	125	0 seconds	N/A
Ithell worker		92	130	0 seconds	N/A
Cadarn worker		93	135	0 seconds	N/A
Amlodd worker		94	140	0 seconds	N/A
Trahaearn worker		95	145	0 seconds	N/A
Hefin worker		96	150	0 seconds	N/A
Crwys worker		97	155	0 seconds	N/A
Meilyr worker		98	170	0 seconds	N/A

Pickpocketing multiple loot

A player performing a double pickpocket.

At higher Thieving levels, players have the potential to steal additional loot from a single pickpocketing action, although experience is not increased for the additional loot.

NPC		Level for 1x	Levels for 2x	Levels for 3x	Levels for 4x
	Man	1	11	21 10	31 21
	Farmer	10	20 10	30 20	40 30
	H.A.M. Member (female)	15	25 15	35 25	45 35
	H.A.M. Member (male)	20	30 20	40 30	50 40
	Warrior woman	25	35 25	45 35	55 45
	Cave goblin	36	46 36	56 46	66 56
	Master Farmer	38	48 38	58 48	68 58
	Guard	40	50 40	60 50	70 60
	Fremennik	45	55 45	65 55	75 65
	Bearded bandit	45	55 45	65 55	75 65
	Desert bandit	53	63 53	73 63	83 73
	Knight	55	65 55	75 65	85 75
	Pollnivnian bandit	55	65 55	75 65	85 75
	Watchman	65	75 65	85 75	95 85
	Menaphite Thug	65	75 65	85 75	95 85
	Paladin	70	80 70	90 80	N/A
	Gnome	75	85 75	95 85	N/A
	Hero	80	90 80	N/A	N/A
	Elf	85	95 85	N/A	N/A

Stalls

A player stealing cups of tea from the stall in eastern Varrock.

There are a number of market stalls throughout Gielinor which can be stolen from by the player with the appropriate Thieving level. When the item is stolen, it will take a period of time to respawn before the player can attempt to steal from the stall again.

When nearby guards or the stall owner sees someone thieving they may attack or prevent the player from stealing. 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. In order to avoid guards from attacking while stealing from stalls, a convenient method is to allow the guard to attack, enter the nearest building, take one step outside, and close the door, thus effectively trapping the guard.

Stall owners will not trade for about 20 minutes after the last theft from their stall type (except for the market stalls on Ape Atoll); otherwise, the merchant will shout for the guards. If a player carries the vial of stench (a), from the caper A Guild of Our Own, the stall owner will not recognise the player having stolen from them and will then buy stolen goods back from the player without a waiting period.

Stall	Level	Respawn time	XP/action	XP/h	Members
Vegetable stall	2	2 seconds	10	1,800
Baker's stall	5	2.5 seconds	16	23,040
Ape Atoll general store	5	7 seconds	16	8,229
Tea stall	5	7 seconds	16	8,229
Crafting stall	5	7 seconds	16	8,229
Monkey food stall	5	7 seconds	16	8,229
Rock cake stall	15	7 seconds	6.5	3,343
Silk stall	20	4 seconds	24	10,800
Wine stall	22	7 seconds	27	13,886
Seed stall	27	11 seconds	10	3,273
Fur stall	35	15 seconds	36	8,640
Fish stall	42	8 seconds	42	18,900
Lamp stall	46	6 seconds	57.5	34,500
Crossbow stall	49	11 seconds	52	17,018
Silver stall	50	30 seconds	54	6,480
Customs evidence files	63	165 seconds	75	1,636
Magic stall	65	80 seconds	100	4,500
Scimitar stall	65	30 seconds	160	7,200
Spice stall	65	60 seconds	81	4,860
Gem stall	75	300 seconds	160	1,920

Chests

A player successfully disarms and steals from a chest.

There are chests scattered throughout RuneScape, and some of them have traps. To disarm them using the Thieving skill, right-click on the chest and select "Search for traps Chest" to allow for disarmament of traps and obtaining the items inside.

After a player thieves from a chest, there is a slight respawn time. Some chests such as the Nature-rune chest change colour to indicate whether it can be looted again.

Thievable chests

Without lockpick

Chest	Level	Experience	Items	Location	Respawn time	XP/s
10-coin chest	13	7	10 coins	Ardougne, Rellekka, and Rogues' Den	7 seconds	1
Chest (Magic axe hut)	23	7.5	Various; see article	Magic axe hut	13.8 seconds	0.54
Ogre coffin	20	27	Various; see article	Jiggig	20 seconds	1.35
Nature-rune chest	28	25	Three coins, nature runes	Ardougne and Rellekka	21 seconds	1.2
50-coin chest	43	125	50 coins	Ardougne	55 seconds	2.3
Arrowhead chest	47	150	Five steel arrowheads, 20 coins	Hemenster and Rellekka	210 seconds	0.7
Blood rune chest	59	250	500 coins, two blood runes	Chaos Druid Tower	210 seconds	1.2
Paladin chests (2)	72	500	1,000 coins, raw shark, adamantite stone spirit, uncut sapphire	Ardougne Palace, behind locked doors in the north and south wings of the 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US]. After looting, "Suddenly a second magic trap triggers", sending the player to Witchaven (unless wearing Ardougne cloak 3 or 4, in which case they are sent to the northern-most bank in Ardougne).	400 seconds	1.25

Lockpick required

Chest	Level	Lockpick XP	Search XP	Items	Location	Respawn time
Dorgesh-Kaan Average Chest	52	200	0	Various; see article	Dorgesh-Kaan	210 seconds
Chest (Rogues' Castle)	65	300	60	4-243 coins, tiny plated steel salvage, medium plated steel salvage, one gold stone spirit, 2-5 blood runes	Rogues' Castle	600 seconds, resettable
Dorgesh-Kaan Rich Chest	78	650	0	500-2,500 coins, uncut sapphire, uncut ruby, uncut diamond, uncut opal, uncut jade, uncut red topaz, bullseye lantern, Mining helmet, Frog-leather armour, iron stone spirit, Light orb, Empty light orb, Cave goblin wire, Charms (all types)	Dorgesh-Kaan	400 seconds

Doors

Main article: Door

A player picking a lock.

Certain doors in RuneScape cannot 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.

Pickable doors

Door	Level	Exp.	Location	Lockpick?
Cell in Port Sarim Jail	N/A	N/A	Port Sarim
Door to 10-coin chest	1	3.5	East Ardougne
Door to Nature rune chest	14	15	East Ardougne
Ardougne house door	14	15	East Ardougne
H.A.M. entrance	15	3.8	North-east of Lumbridge
Magic axe hut door	23	22.5	Level 54 Wilderness
Ardougne sewer gate	31	25	Ardougne sewers
Pirates' Hideout	39	35	Level 54 Wilderness
Chaos Druid Tower	46	37.5	North of Ardougne
Paladin door	61	50	Ardougne Castle
Yanille dungeon door	82	50	Yanille

Blackjacking

Main article: Blackjack

Safecracking

Main article: Safecracking

There are a number of safes scattered across RuneScape that can be cracked open after the completion of all of the Thieves' Guild capers. Doing so rewards players with Thieving experience, pilfer points, and several rewards that aid with training.

Useful items

Achievement diary rewards

Superior versions work in place of lower-tiered versions. The cloak doesn't have to be worn to get the benefits.

Item	Benefit
Ardougne cloak 1	Reduces the chance of being caught when stealing from the stalls in Ardougne market.
Ardougne cloak 2	Reduces the chance of being caught when pickpocketing in Ardougne.
Ardougne cloak 3	Reduces the chance of being caught when stealing or pickpocketing anywhere in RuneScape.

Black ibis outfit

Black ibis outfit are an experience-boosting set that may be found during the minigame Pyramid Plunder. The set consists of four pieces - a mask, body, legs and boots - each piece provides a 1% stackable experience boost across the board, and wearing the full set raises this to 5% in total.

Item		XP boost
	Black ibis mask	1%
	Black ibis body	1%
	Black ibis legs	1%
	Black ibis boots	1%
Sub-total		4%
Set bonus		1%
Full set		5%

Trahaearn exoskeleton set

Trahaearn exoskeleton set is a 4-part outfit made from Exoskeleton headband, Exoskeleton torso, Exoskeleton legs, and Exoskeleton bracers which, when worn completely, gives a 25% to avoid being stunned and damaged while pick pocketing or plucking the Desert Phoenix, a 25% chance to avoid being bitten when looting urns in Pyramid Plunder and a weight reduction of 2 kg per piece equipped (8 kg total). It can be worn instead of the Black Ibis outfit and Gloves of Silence for their bonuses if the player has unlocked them.

Camouflage outfits

There are three lesser camouflage outfits that aid Thieving: Keldagrim, Prifddinas, and Desert camouflage. The three can be combined into the superior Master camouflage outfit.

Thieving yields Camouflage fragments after 70 Thieving. They are gained at five-minute intervals, with 45 to 55 received each time, for approximately 600 fragments hourly. The rate is doubled at 99 Thieving, tripled at virtual level 120, and quadrupled at 200 million experience.

At 80 Thieving and 20 Invention, the player can use 3600 fragments to manufacture a random camouflage piece among those that they do not own. With five pieces per outfit, one can expect to obtain the master camouflage outfit in about 90 hours. Once all pieces are obtained, it is impossible to manufacture any more.

All five pieces of an outfit must be worn to enjoy its benefits (this does not apply to the weight reduction benefit).

The Keldagrim, Prifddinas, and Desert outfits provide the following bonuses:

• Offers 5 daily teleports to thieving locations (if you have unlocked them): Prifddinas, Pyramid Plunder, the Consortium in Keldagrim, Lletya, Thieves' Guild, and Pollnivneach.
• 5% chance to double pickpocket.
• 5% chance to avoid being stunned when pickpocketing.
• 5% increased chance of not being bitten by snakes in Pyramid Plunder.
• Increased chance to pass doors in Pyramid Plunder.
• Increased chances of finding Black Ibis clothing (stacks with the Sceptre of the gods) and the Sceptre of the gods in Pyramid Plunder.
• Uses Black ibis outfit's bonus experience if owned, even while the set is in the bank or player-owned house.
• Uses Trahaearn exoskeleton set's effects if owned, even while the set is in the bank or player-owned house.
• Wearing camouflage hands gives the same benefits as Gloves of silence provided you own the gloves and meet the requirements to use them.

The Master camouflage outfit provides the same bonuses with minor improvements:

• Offers unlimited teleports (using the head piece) to thieving locations (if you have unlocked them): Prifddinas clan districts (Iorwerth, Ithell, Cadarn, Amlodd, Trahaearn, Hefin, Crwys, Meilyr), Pyramid Plunder, the Consortium in Keldagrim, Lletya, Thieves' Guild in Lumbridge, and Pollnivneach.
• 7% chance to double pickpocket.
• 7% chance to avoid being stunned when pickpocketing.
• 7% increased chance of not being bitten by snakes in Pyramid Plunder.
• Increased chances of finding Seren symbol pieces.

Other

Item	Benefit
Featherfingered necklace	Give a chance of not being stunned or damaged when pickpocketing.
Gloves of silence	Reduces the chance of being caught when pickpocketing. Requires a Hunter level of 54 to wear.
Cheeky monkey	Once per minute, prevents the player from being stunned or damaged when pickpocketing.
Vial of stench (a)	Allows the player to sell items to stall owners immediately after stealing from their stalls.
Crystal Mask	Increases the player’s chance of pickpocketing successfully by 15% and gives a chance to not be stunned by NPCs. Lasts 5 minutes. Requires completion of The Light Within.
Light Form	Enhances the effects of Seren-aligned spells. This includes Crystal Mask, which further increase player’s chance of pickpocketing successfully when using this spell. Requires completion of The Light Within.
Five-finger discount aura	Increases the player's chance of thieving successfully by 3% to 15% while activated, depending on aura tier.

Temporary boosts

Main article: Temporary skill boost

Name	Boost	Requirements	Other info
Yellow spicy stew	±6 with three spice doses ±3 with 2 spice doses ±1 with a spice dose	Recipe for Disaster: Freeing Evil Dave	Can be boosted or reduced by one to six points randomly. Completion of Evil Dave's Big Day Out is advised for a guaranteed boost of two or higher
Poison chalice	+1	None	Has random effects of skill increase, combat stats increase/decrease, or heal/damage the player, see effects
Bandit's brew	+1	None	None
Magpie scroll (Thieving Fingers)	+2	47	Requires that the magpie familiar is summoned.
Abyssal Lurker scroll (Abyssal Stealth)	+4	62	Requires that the abyssal lurker familiar is summoned.
Sourberry	+2	86	Grown by the player in The Arc.
Spring sq'irkjuice	+1	25	Obtained during the Sorceress's Garden minigame.
Autumn sq'irkjuice	+2	45	Obtained during the Sorceress's Garden minigame.
Summer sq'irkjuice	+3	65	Obtained during the Sorceress's Garden minigame.
Advanced pulse core	+7	None	In crowded training areas, you can benefit from other's pulse cores.
God banner	+2	God Emissaries - Skilling tasks	Can be activated once a day, for a 30 minute duration.
Thieving cape	+1	99	Notes all Thieving loot, and acts like an Ardougne cloak if the player owns one
Thieving master cape		120

Random events (discontinued)

Main article: Random events

A player is trapped in the Yanille pillory.

There were two different random events specific to Thieving, with one of them being removed at a much earlier date.

• Poison Gas - At one point in time, it was possible to activate a poison gas trap upon opening a chest. To avoid this, players would have to merely exit the room.
• Pillory - It was possible that a player's character would be teleported to a pillory in Yanille, Varrock, or Seers' Village, where shapes had to be matched in order to pick the lock and return to where the player was thieving. However, players could get it even when they were not thieving. It was possible for players to throw rotten tomatoes at the trapped player, although it wouldn't do any damage. The rotten tomatoes could be bought for one coin each and couldn't be bought while the player was in the cage.
  • This replaced the Watchman, who would attack players who were thieving when the event occurred. He had the same level as all other hostile random events. He was replaced due to complaints that he would kill the player too quickly, as many would not wear armour while pickpocketing.

Thieving minigames

A player attempts to steal from the safe in the Rogues' Den.

There are a number of minigames that are based on or include Thieving:

Icon	Name	Description	Rewards
	Pyramid Plunder	Disarm traps and avoid snakes as you search an ancient pyramid for treasure.	Gives Thieving experience and treasures which can be sold for cash.
	Flash Powder Factory	Dare you enter a factory of deadly traps, fiendish obstacles and devious puzzles? Will you make it around the factory using your Agility and Thieving in a limited time and claim the rewards?	Gives Brian points, which can be used to purchase rewards from Brian O'Richard to help you in future games.
	Sorceress's Garden	Players attempt to sneak around watchful elementals guarding their gardens to pick Sq'irk fruits or herbs.	Farming and Thieving experience.
	Stealing Creation	Harvesting sacred clay using Mining, Fishing, Woodcutting and Hunting. Whichever team gathers the most clay is the winner.	Gives Stealing Creation points, which can be exchanged for experience-boosting equipment and armour.
N/A	Heist	Siding with either the guards or the robbers. The robbers' goal is to trick the guards by taking the form of the locals in order to escape with loot. The guards' goal is to prevent the robbers from succeeding by accusing suspects and makings arrests.	Gives reward points, which an be exchanged for Thieving bonus experience, Hunter bonus experience, in-game perks and in-game levels.
N/A	Shifting Tombs	Raiding tombs with three main objectives: opening sarcophagi, looting treasure chests, and cleansing corruption.	Menaphos reputation, experience in selected skills, and a chance at various items.

Strange rock

Although the examine text of the Thieving strange rock says "borrowed from a pocket", it can be obtained by picking pockets, safecracking, stealing from stalls, and stealing from chests. Strange rocks are used to construct the Dahmaroc statue in the Shattered Heart Distraction and Diversion.

Thieves' Guild

The Thieves' Guild is found under a trapdoor north of Lumbridge. Available after completing Buyers and Cellars, players could additionally do capers to expand the guild. There are coshing volunteers and an advanced pickpocketing trainer (despite the title) available for blackjacking (a rubber blackjack, bought from Dodgy Derek's Dirty Deals in the guild, is required), pickpocketing volunteers and a pickpocketing trainer for pickpocketing, wall safes, locked doors, and chests.

All thieving done inside the guild would not yield any material gain. Players instead gain hanky points that could be traded in for more experience. Negligible damage is done when failing to pickpocket or being knocked out by NPCs, and the trap under wall safes consists of rubber spikes.

Skilling pet (Ralph)

Main article: Ralph

Like all skills, there is a skilling pet obtainable from training this skill. The pet for the Thieving skill is called Ralph.

Quests with a Thieving requirement

• 5 - Buyers and Cellars
• 5 - Perils of Ice Mountain
• 13 - The Lost Tribe
• 14 - The Giant Dwarf
• 15 - Watchtower
• 17 - The Hand in the Sand
• 21 - Tribal Totem
• 22 - The Darkness of Hallowvale
• 23 - Death to the Dorgeshuun
• 25 - Creature of Fenkenstrain
• 25 - The Dig Site
• 25 - The Golem
• 30 - Dishonour among Thieves
• 30 - The Feud
• 30 - Slug Menace
• 30 - Troll Stronghold
• 33 - Carnillean Rising
• 36 - Land of the Goblins
• 37 - Spirits of the Elid
• 38 - Hunt for Red Raktuber
• 39 - Elemental Workshop IV
• 40 - A Fairy Tale II - Cure a Queen
• 42 - Temple of Ikov
• 46 - The Chosen Commander
• 50 - Legends' Quest
• 50 - Mourning's End Part I
• 51 - A Fairy Tale III - Battle at Ork's Rift
• 53 - Desert Treasure
• 54 - A Void Dance
• 56 - The Path of Glouphrie
• 58 - Grim Tales
• 60 - Dealing with Scabaras
• 60 - Twilight of the Gods
• 60 - While Guthix Sleeps
• 63 - Rocking Out
• 64 - The Prisoner of Glouphrie
• 66 - The Curse of Arrav
• 70 - Do No Evil
• 70 - Deadliest Catch
• 74 - A Clockwork Syringe
• 85 - Pieces of Hate

Quests for Thieving experience

Main article: Quest experience rewards § Thieving

Quest	Members	Experience reward	Thieving requirement	Other requirements
Damage Control (miniquest)		Medium Thieving XP lamp	N/A	N/A
Dimension of Disaster: Shield of Arrav		100	N/A	N/A
Let Them Eat Pie		150	N/A	N/A
Stolen Hearts		250	N/A	N/A
Diamond in the Rough		250	N/A	N/A
Perils of Ice Mountain		500	5	5 Farming 5 Hunter 5 Construction
Tower of Life		500	N/A	10 Construction
The Jack of Spades		500	N/A	N/A
Buyers and Cellars		525	5	N/A
Creature of Fenkenstrain		1,000	25	20 Crafting
From Tiny Acorns (miniquest)		1,000	24	N/A
The Golem		1,000	25	20 Crafting
The Hand in the Sand		1,000	17	49 Crafting
Heartstealer		2,500	20	N/A
Spirits of the Elid		1,000	37	33 Magic 37 Ranged 37 Mining
Biohazard		1,250	N/A	N/A
Dishonour among Thieves		1,500	30	30 Agility
The Giant Dwarf		1,500	14	12 Crafting 16 Firemaking 33 Magic
Hazeel Cult		1,500	N/A	N/A
Tribal Totem		1,775	21	N/A
Death to the Dorgeshuun		2,000	23	23 Agility
Hunt for Red Raktuber		2,000	38	45 Construction 45 Hunter
Fight Arena		2,175	N/A	N/A
A Fairy Tale II - Cure a Queen		2,500	40	49 Farming 57 Herblore
Carnillean Rising		2,500	N/A	31 Construction 33 Prayer
The Fremennik Trials		2,812	N/A	40 Crafting 25 Fletching 40 Woodcutting
Land of the Goblins		3,000	36	30 Prayer 36 Agility 36 Fishing 37 Herblore
The Slug Menace		3,500	30	30 Crafting 30 Runecrafting 30 Slayer
Icthlarin's Little Helper		4,500	N/A	N/A
Rat Catchers		4,500	N/A	N/A
A Void Dance		5,000	54	46 Hunter 47 Construction 47 Mining 48 Summoning 49 Herblore 52 Woodcutting
The Path of Glouphrie		5,000	56	60 Strength 56 Slayer 47 Ranged 45 Agility
The Darkness of Hallowvale		6,000	22	5 Construction 20 Mining 26 Agility 32 Crafting 33 Magic 40 Strength
Grim Tales		6,000	58	45 Farming 52 Herblore 59 Agility 71 Woodcutting
Contact!		7,000	N/A	N/A
Dealing with Scabaras		7,000	60	21 Firemaking 50 Agility 60 Strength
Deadliest Catch		8,000	70	3 Herblore 67 Hunter 70 Fishing
Lost Her Marbles (miniquest)		9,800	41	N/A
Dimension of Disaster: Defender of Varrock		10,000	42	N/A
Some Like It Cold		10,000	50	65 Fishing 56 Crafting 50 Construction
A Fairy Tale III - Battle at Ork's Rift		11,000	51	59 Magic 54 Farming 37 Summoning 36 Crafting
The Curse of Arrav		14,000	66	37 Slayer 41 Summoning 61 Agility 64 Ranged 64 Strength 64 Mining
Dimension of Disaster: Curse of Arrav		14,000	66	61 Agility 64 Strength 64 Ranged
The Feud		15,000	30	N/A
A Clockwork Syringe		18,000	74	50 Dungeoneering 61 Slayer 62 Construction 65 Summoning 74 Smithing 76 Defence
The Chosen Commander		20,000	46	46 Agility 46 Strength
Mourning's End Part I		25,000	50	60 Ranged
Rocking Out		25,000	63	60 Agility 66 Crafting 69 Smithing
A Guild of Our Own (miniquest)		30,000	62	40 Agility 46 Herblore
Do No Evil		50,000	70	50 Ranged 64 Construction 68 Crafting 70 Magic
Pieces of Hate		50,000	85	81 Construction 82 Firemaking 83 Agility
The Prisoner of Glouphrie		60,000	64	64 Agility 61 Runecrafting 62 Construction
Total		453,087

Achievements

• The World is a Safe Place ( 0) – Loot from all safes within Gielinor.
• Pilferin' in Misthalin ( 5) – Loot from all safes within Misthalin.
• Pilferin' in Kharidian Desert ( 5) – Loot from all safes within the Kharidian Desert.
• Pilferin' in Asgarnia ( 10) – Loot from all safes within Asgarnia.
• Pilferin' in Kandarin ( 10) – Loot from all safes within Kandarin.
• Pilferin' the Hidden Ones ( 20) – Loot from all safes hidden around less frequently visited places.
• A Thief Beyond Belief ( 20) – Steal from each of the listed types of merchant stalls.
• Slivers of Camouflage ( 10) – Own the Master Camouflage outfit.

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included - see here for how to help out!

• update 7 November 2022 (Update):
  • The former Sticky Fingers relic power is now a baseline feature, allowing players to automatically pickpocket victims with a single click until caught.
  • The new Sticky Fingers relic power will speed up the rate at which you automatically pickpocket by 50%.
  • The Master camouflage outfit no longer offers auto-pickpocket but retains the increased chance of success and stun avoidance.
  • The Desert Phoenix no longer requires you to have completed the Hard Desert achievements to automatically pick feathers.

• patch 14 October 2019 (Update):
  • Daily Challenge to Pickpocket Pompous Merchants can now only be completed by pickpocking Pompous Merchants & Foppish Pierre, not innocent Men/Women.

• ninja 18 January 2016 (Update):
  • Messages for being caught when picking Prifddinas elves' pockets will now include the clan's name.

• ninja 16 February 2015 (Update):
  • Prifddinas pickpocketing has been rebalanced to be more profitable:
    • There is now a greater chance of receiving items – including three times the chance to get charms from Amlodd elves.
    • Some less-valuable rewards – such as cups of tea – have been removed.
    • More items are now given in noted form.

• ninja 22 July 2014 (Update):
  • Seedicide can now be used whilst pickpocketing as a convenience item - no Farming experience is awarded for seeds consumed in this way.

• patch 10 September 2013 (Update):
  • 'You're stunned!' has been added to the chat filter when you are unsuccessful with pickpocketing.

• patch 17 June 2013 (Update):
  • The chance of getting reed seeds from Thieving has been increased.

• patch 28 June 2011 (Update):
  • An old style gnome head in the Thieving skill guide has been updated.

• patch 14 June 2011 (Update):
  • The Completionist cape now counts as the Ardougne cape when pickpocketing.

• patch 7 September 2010 (Update):
  • Insufficient XP being given for pickpocketing certain bandits in Pollnivneach.
  • Only players who have completed Fremennik Trials are meant to be allowed to pickpocket Fremenniks.

• patch 28 April 2010 (Update):
  • If you failed when pick-pocketing an NPC they would attack you, but not always play the attack animation. This has now been fixed.

• patch 16 February 2010 (Update):
  • Thieving messages for Martin the Master Gardener now make more sense.

• patch 22 June 2009 (Update):
  • Changed the order of the Thieving code – now it doesn't start the animation until the rest of the checks have been run and you can actually pickpocket the target.

• patch 12 May 2009 (Update):
  • Fixed an issue when thieving and then clicking on a location like stairs.
    • This also introduced a NPC behavioral change. When a thief is caught pickpocketing an NPC in combat with another player, the NPC is far less likely to disengage from the battle.

• patch 21 April 2009 (Update):
  • A glitch with the lock picking animation has been resolved.

• update 30 April 2002 (Update):
  • Thieving skill added to game.
  • New members update online! Many RPGs have a thieving/rogue skill and this is something which until now has been missing from RuneScape.

• update 4 January 2001 (Update):
  • Runescape beta goes live. Thieving is included in the skill list, but has no function.

Trivia

A picture of the RuneScape Classic stats interface, showing the Thieving skill.

• Thieving was included on the stats screen when RuneScape was initially released on 4 January 2001. However, it was not actually implemented until 30 April 2002.
• When While Guthix Sleeps is completed and one of the 100,000 experience boosts is used on Thieving, the following message appears: You feel your respect for others' property slipping away. The same message appears when you receive Thieving experience from the Tears of Guthix D&D and when receiving Thieving experience from the seasonal Guthix butterflies.
• After the Evolution of Combat update, players (when stunned) can use Freedom to prevent waiting for the player to come back to their senses. However, one still may not pickpocket again until the time at which the normal stun duration would have ended.
• The desert camouflage set used to allow for up to 10 automatic pickpocket attempts until the Garden of Kharid update on the 6th of November 2022.

See also

• Quest experience rewards - Thieving
• Hiscores
• Milestones
• Thieves' Guild
• Thieving training, a guide to training Thieving
• Thieving/Level up table
• Thieving Calculators