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 18 Nov 2019)
Players with 99	137,163 (as of 18 Nov 2019)
Players with 120	16,192 (as of 18 Nov 2019)
Players with 200M XP	4,551 (as of 18 Nov 2019)
Infobox • Talk page

Thieving is a members-only support skill that allows players to obtain coins and items by stealing from market stalls, chests, or by pickpocketing 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 816,691) on the hiscores for Thieving is level 15. As of 18 November 2019, there are 137,163 current members that have achieved level 99 in Thieving. There are 16,192 current members that have achieved level 120 in Thieving.

A player successfully pickpockets a Crwys worker.

Pickpocketing

This is the act of walking up to an NPC and right-clicking them, then selecting Pickpocket. In the case of a Master Farmer, the various workers of the different Elven clans in Prifddinas and marketeers in Menaphos, only a single left click is required to attempt to pick their pockets. If successful, you will gain Thieving experience and possibly coins or various items. The higher the thieving level, the more NPCs the player is able to pickpocket from.

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 a Master Farmer will say "Cor blimey, mate! What are ye doing in me pockets?" and will stun you for a few seconds and cause damage. The amount of damage taken is roughly proportionate to the amount of life points the player currently has, specifically 30 damage per 1,000 life points starting at 60 life points (60 damage at 1,000 life points, 90 damage at 2,000 life points and so on). This damage is not classified as melee damage, and Protect from Melee/Deflect Melee does not prevent the damage as such. It is possible to die from retaliation alone (that is, even without damage from attacking guards) even though the hits decrease to 60 or so.

Because of the possibility for damage, it is recommended that players bring healing methods. The best healing item is usually the Enhanced Excalibur, especially when activated with low health remaining. Alternatively, one may bring familiars, regen bracelet, or food such as cakes that can be stolen from cake stalls. The best food to bring is a basket of strawberries, because although you need to consume it in several bites, overall it heals more than rocktails. This is excellent for thieving as NPCs hit small amounts of damage.

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."

Most equipment that a player wears does not affect the success rate.

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. However, equipping a Snowball, a salamander without the tar needed, or a (cross)bow without projectiles makes it impossible to accidentally attack an NPC.

Auto-pickpockting is a set effect of the Master camouflage outfit, allowing up to 10 pickpockets from one click.

To help increase the success rate, players with 62 or higher Summoning may choose to summon an Abyssal lurker familiar, and use Abyssal stealth scrolls, which provide a +4 visible boost to Thieving.

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

Thievable non-player characters

Levels for stealing multiples of normal loot all follow these formulae ([level] stands for the base level required to steal from the NPC):

Double Loot = [level]+10 thieving and [level] agility

Triple Loot = [level]+20 thieving and [level]+10 agility

Quadruple Loot = [level]+30 thieving and [level]+20 agility

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

Man/Woman		Level	Double loot	Locations
		1	11 1	All around RuneScape, mainly in cities. The best place to find them is in Edgeville, right next to the jail
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		21 11	31 21	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 10 lp	8	3 coins:*After Lost Her Marbles: 20 coins

Farmer		Level	Double loot	Locations
		10	20 10	Wandering in or near farms close to cities or Lumbridge fields
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		30 20	40 30	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 10 lp	14.5	9 coins, potato seeds

Female H.A.M. member		Level	Double loot	Locations
		15	25 15	H.A.M. Hideout
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		35 25	45 35	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		4s 10-30 lp	18.5	2-21 coins, tinderbox, logs, uncut semi-precious gems, level 1 clue scrolls, small spiky steel salvage, tiny bladed steel salvage, raw anchovies, raw chicken, H.A.M. clothing, small spiky iron salvage, tiny bladed iron salvage, tiny spiky steel salvage low-level herbs, rusty sword, damaged armour and other items, coal, Buttons, feathers. Wearing H.A.M. clothing increases the success rate.

Male H.A.M. member		Level	Double loot	Locations
		20	30 20	H.A.M. Hideout
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		40 30	50 40	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		4s 10-30 lp	22.5	2-21 coins, tinderbox, logs, uncut semi-precious gems, level 1 clue scrolls, raw anchovies, raw chicken, H.A.M. clothing, small spiky bronze salvage, small spiky iron salvage, small spiky steel salvage, low-level herbs, rusty sword, broken armour and other items. Wearing H.A.M. clothing increases the success rate. After completing Lost Her Marbles: H.A.M. clothing, coins (25-29), Slayer staff, damaged armour, rusty sword, leather body, steel studs, herbs up to Tarromin, tiny spiky steel salvage, tiny bladed steel salvage, small spiky steel salvage, buttons, 1-5 iron stone spirit, 1-4 coal stone spirit, uncut semi-precious gems.

H.A.M. Guard		Level	Double loot	Locations
		20	30 20	H.A.M. Hideout
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		40 30	50 40	Death to the Dorgeshuun
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		4s 10-30 lp	22.5	These guards are downstairs in the store-rooms, and cannot be accessed until after completing the Death to the Dorgeshuun quest. Yields the same finds as when you pickpocket a male H.A.M member, with the addition of bronze, iron, steel, and silver keys. See the article H.A.M. Dungeon for more information.

Warrior woman/Al Kharid Warrior		Level	Double loot	Locations
		25	35 25	Warrior woman: Varrock Palace, East Ardougne and north of East Ardougne Al Kharid Warrior: Al Kharid Palace
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		45 35	55 45	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 20 lp	26	18 coins, court summons

Rogue		Level	Double loot	Locations
		32	N/A	Rogues' Castle, south-west of the Mage Arena
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		Thieving from rogues is similar to thieving from elves in Prifddinas (see below). The player will thieve from the rogue continuously until caught. When caught, the player will not be able to thieve from rogues on that floor of Rogues' Castle for 2 minutes, but can thieve from rogues on other floors during this time.	12	20 coins, Flame Fragment (rogue), Bloodweed Seed

Cave goblin		Level	Double loot	Locations
		36	46 36	Dorgesh-Kaan
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		56 46	66 56	Death to the Dorgeshuun
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 10 lp	40	30 coins, oil lamp, bullseye lantern, unlit torch, tinderbox, swamp tar, cave goblin foods, 1-4 iron stone spirit, cave goblin wire

Master farmer		Level	Double loot	Locations
		38	48 38	Draynor Village marketplace, near the farming shop in Hemenster, sheep pen south of Varrock, farm north of East Ardougne, Taverley marketplace
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		58 48	68 58	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 30 lp	43	Various Seeds (not including Spirit Weed and Wergali seeds). Potatoes most common, rarity increases with the farming level of the seed.

Guard		Level	Double loot	Locations
		40	50 40	Varrock, East Ardougne, Falador, near the Wilderness Wall in Edgeville
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		60 50	70 60	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 20 lp	46.5	30 coins

Fremennik citizen		Level	Double loot	Locations
		45	55 45	Rellekka
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		65 55	75 65	The Fremennik Trials
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 20 lp	65	40 coins

Bearded Pollnivnian Bandit		Level	Double loot	Locations
		45	55 45	North of Pollnivneach
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		65 55	75 65	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 20 lp	65	40 coins

Menaphite Marketeer		Level	Double loot	Locations
		46	N/A	Merchant district of Menaphos
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	The Jack of Spades
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		3s Roughly 3% of current lp	29.5	30 coins, Menaphite gift offering (small), Kalphite wanderer in amber, Hornless unicornfly in amber

Desert Bandit		Level	Double loot	Locations
		53	63 53	Bandit Camp
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		73 63	83 73	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 30 lp	79.5	30 coins, antipoison, lockpick

Knight of Ardougne		Level	Double loot	Locations
		55	65 55	East Ardougne marketplace
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		75 65	85 75	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 30 lp	84.3	50 coins, court summons

Pollnivnian Bandit		Level	Double loot	Locations
		55	65 55	North of Pollnivneach
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		75 65	85 75	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 50 lp	84.3	50 coins

Yanille Watchman		Level	Double loot	Locations
		65	75 65	Watchtower
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		85 75	95 85	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 30 lp	137.5	60 coins and bread

Menaphite Thug		Level	Double loot	Locations
		65	75 65	South of Pollnivneach
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		85 75	95 85	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 50 lp	137.5	60 coins

Paladin		Level	Double loot	Locations
		70	80 70	East Ardougne marketplace and castle
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		90 80	-	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		30 lp	151.75	80 coins and 2 chaos runes, court summons

Monkey knife fighter		Level	Double loot	Locations
		70	-	Ape Atoll, north building in Marim
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		-	-	Do No Evil
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		60 lp	20;150	1-50 coins, black knives, lobster, small bladed mithril salvage, small bladed adamant salvage, medium bladed rune salvage and dragon scimitar

Gnome		Level	Double loot	Locations
		75	85 75	Tree Gnome Village and Tree Gnome Stronghold
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		95 85	-	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s roughly 3% of current lp	198.5	300 coins, 1 earth rune, gold stone spirit, fire orb, swamp toad, king worm, court summons, barberry seed, sunchoke seed, butterfly flower seed, snape grass seed, fly trap seed, reed seed, prickly pear seed, grapevine seed, potato cactus seed

Hero		Level	Double loot	Locations
		80	90 80	East Ardougne marketplace
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		-	-	None
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		6s 40 lp	273.3	200-300 coins, 2 death runes, blood rune, fire orb, diamond, gold stone spirit, jug of wine, court summons

Elves		Level	Double loot	Locations
		85	95 85	Lletya
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		-	-	Mourning's End Part I
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		6s 50 lp + 3% of player's current lp	353.3	240, 280 or 350 coins, fire orb, gold stone spirit, jug of wine, 2 death runes, cut diamonds, unicorn horn, 3 nature runes, barberry seed, sunchoke seed, butterfly flower seed, snape grass seed, fly trap seed, reed seed, prickly pear seed, grapevine seed, potato cactus seed, crystal triskelion fragments.

Dwarf traders		Level	Double loot	Locations
		90	100 85	Trade Octagon in Keldagrim
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		-	-	The Giant Dwarf
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		5s 10 lp	556.5	100-400 coins, iron stone spirit, coal stone spirit, mithril stone spirit, adamantite stone spirit, runite stone spirit, tin stone spirit, copper stone spirit, level 3 clue scroll, court summons, barberry seed, sunchoke seed, butterfly flower seed, snape grass seed, fly trap seed, reed seed, prickly pear seed, grapevine seed, potato cactus seed, crystal triskelion fragments.

Prifddinas Training

At level 91, the elves of Prifddinas can be pickpocketed by a single (left) click. Unlike thieving in the rest of RuneScape - with the exception of Rogues in the Wilderness - one click starts an endless series of pickpocketing until you are noticed. In the mid-90s, a single click can often result in more than 5 continuous minutes of training resulting in over 10,000 XP, more than 10,000 coins, and other clan-affiliated loot. Once noticed, the NPC does not stun, but they can no longer be thieved from. You may continue to pickpocket other NPCs in the area until you are noticed twice more. After three NPCs notice you in total, they warn their respective clan making it impossible to pickpocket in that area for approximately 20 minutes. There are eight areas containing elves that you may pickpocket with levels varying from 91 to 98. The reset times run independently for each area, but an entire clan must be alerted before their timer begins. With the addition of Batch II, it is now possible to constantly train thieving, as the 20 minute timer typically runs down before you alert every clan. Thus, the ease of training makes this an essential part of even intensive high-level training. The Voice of Seren also provides an increase in thieving experience in districts that are being illuminated. Therefore, it is best if one begins their training in those areas before spending their time elsewhere, as it is possible to visit the illuminated clans two to three times before the districts change.

The second elf in any area notices much quicker than the first, and the third one even more so. However, the reset timer only begins after the third elf has noticed and so it is always necessary to pick-pocket all three in each area before moving on.

An Ardougne cloak (3 or 4) and gloves of silence increase the time before being noticed significantly. One could also use the Exoskeleton set, as it provides the same benefits as the gloves of silence in addition to bonus thieving experience (if one owns the Black ibis outfit).

Iorwerth worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		91	N/A	Prifddinas - Iorwerth Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	125	135-350 coins, noted super defence (1), noted super strength (1), noted super attack (1), shark, adamantite stone spirit, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (melee), Iorwerth symbol piece, crystal weapon seed, crystal triskelion fragments, crystal motherlode shard, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces.

Ithell worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		92	N/A	Prifddinas - Ithell Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	130	150-315 coins, soft clay, oak plank, teak plank, soda ash, harmonic dust, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), crystal weapon seed, crystal armour seed, crystal tool seed, brawling gloves (thieving), brawling gloves (cooking), Ithell symbol piece, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal motherlode shard, crystal triskelion fragments.

Cadarn worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		93	N/A	Prifddinas - Cadarn Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	135	135-350 coins, noted bowstring, noted unpowered orb, noted super magic potion (1), noted super ranging potion (1), shark, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (magic), brawling gloves (ranged), Cadarn symbol piece, crystal weapon seed, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal triskelion fragments.

Amlodd worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		94	N/A	Prifddinas - Amlodd Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	140	150-315 coins, sign of the porter IV, radiant energy, luminous energy, pouch, incandescent energy, gold charm, green charm, crimson charm, blue charm, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), truthful shadow core, manifest shadow core, brawling gloves (hunter), Amlodd symbol piece, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal weapon seed, crystal triskelion fragments.

Trahaearn worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		95	N/A	Prifddinas - Trahaearn Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	145	135-345 coins, gold stone spirit, coal stone spirit, adamantite stone spirit, corrupted ore, dwarven stout (m), clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (smithing), brawling gloves (mining), Trahaearn symbol piece, crystal weapon seed, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal triskelion fragments.

Hefin worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		96	N/A	Prifddinas - Hefin Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	150	150-315 coins, summer pie, agility potion (1), super energy (1), accursed ashes, dragon bones, Hefin course multiplier, cleansing crystal, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (agility), brawling gloves (prayer), Hefin symbol piece, crystal motherlode shard, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal triskelion fragments.

Crwys worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		97	N/A	Prifddinas - Crwys Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	155	135-367 coins, noted supercompost, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (firemaking), brawling gloves (woodcutting), Crwys symbol piece, Crystal motherlode shard, crystal weapon seed, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal triskelion fragments, yew logs, magic logs, flax, maple sapling, pineapple sapling.

Meilyr worker		Level	Double loot	Locations
		98	N/A	Prifddinas - Meilyr Clan district
		Triple loot	Quadruple loot	Quest
		N/A	N/A	Plague's End
		Stun time/ Damage	XP	Loot
		-	170	150-315 coins, vial of water, snape grass, Crushed nest, Zamorak's favour (1), dragon scale dust, harmony moss seed, Dungeoneering token bags 10 or 100, clue scroll (hard), clue scroll (elite), brawling gloves (fishing), crystal acorn, crystal motherlode shard, Meilyr symbol piece, Prifddinian musician's outfit pieces, crystal triskelion fragments.

Other NPCs

In addition to the standard thievable NPCs, the workers involved in the Tower of Life quest may also be pickpocketed by players with level 1 thieving. Successfully pickpocketing a worker give the player a triangle sandwich and 8 thieving experience. The workers are: 'Black-eye', 'Gummy', 'No fingers', and 'The Guns'. Their supervisor, Bonafido, cannot be pickpocketed. The workers can be pickpocketed regardless if the quest is finished or not.

Stalls

A player stealing Cups of Tea from the stall in eastern Varrock

There are a large number of stalls throughout RuneScape, and many of them are in the Ardougne Market. Stealing from stalls is the left-click option.

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.

When the item is stolen, it will take a short period of time to respawn. However, the higher thieving level it takes to steal from a stall, the longer its respawn time will be. It should be noted you may not buy from or sell to the stall owner 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 most stolen goods back from the player without the 20 minute wait.

In order to avoid guards from attacking while stealing from stalls, a convenient method is to allow the guard to attack, then enter the nearest building, then take one step outside and close the door, thus effectively trapping the guard.

Thievable stalls

Stall	Level	Exp.	Items	Location	Required Quest(s)	Respawn Time	XP/second
Vegetable stall	2	10	onion, cabbage, potato, tomato, or garlic	Miscellania, Etceteria, Burthorpe	The Fremennik Trials for Miscellania and Etceteria	2 seconds	5
Baker's stall	5	16	cake, bread or chocolate slice	East Ardougne, Keldagrim, Burthorpe	The Giant Dwarf for Keldagrim	2.5 seconds	6.4
Crafting stall	5	16	chisel, ring mould, or necklace mould	Ape Atoll, Keldagrim, Burthorpe	Monkey Madness for Ape Atoll, The Giant Dwarf for Keldagrim	7 seconds	2.3
Monkey Food stall	5	16	banana	Ape Atoll	Monkey Madness	7 seconds	2.3
Monkey general store	5	16	pot, hammer, or tinderbox	Ape Atoll	Monkey Madness	7 seconds	2.3
Tea stall	5	16	cup of tea	Varrock	None	7 seconds	2.3
Rock cake stall	15	6.5	rock cake	Gu'Tanoth	Watchtower	7 seconds	0.9
Silk stall	20	24	silk	East Ardougne	None	8 seconds	3
Wine stall	22	27	jug of water, jug of wine, grapes, jug, bottle of wine	Draynor Village, Burthorpe	None	7 seconds	1.7
Seed stall	27	10	Various seeds	Draynor Village, Burthorpe	None	11 seconds	0.9
Fur stall	35	36	fur, grey wolf fur	East Ardougne, Rellekka	The Fremennik Trials for Rellekka	15 seconds	2.4
Fish stall	42	42	raw salmon, raw tuna, or raw lobster	Rellekka, Miscellania, Etceteria	The Fremennik Trials	16 seconds	1.7
Lamp stall	46	30	Nothing, Small XP Lamp (Rare chance) or Menaphite gift offering (small)	Menaphos	The Jack of Spades	6 seconds	Unknown
Crossbow stall	49	52	bronze bolts (3), bronze limbs, wooden stock	Keldagrim	The Giant Dwarf	11 seconds	4.7
Silver stall	50	54	silver stone spirit	East Ardougne, Keldagrim	The Giant Dwarf for Keldagrim	30 seconds	1.8
Customs evidence files	63	75	medium bladed rune salvage, uncut diamond, uncut ruby, uncut emerald, uncut sapphire, sharks, mithril stone spirit, gold stone spirit, iron stone spirit, pirate boots, stripy pirate shirt, eye patch, tiny bladed steel salvage, small bladed steel salvage, small bladed iron salvage, small bladed bronze salvage, clue scroll, 300 coins	Rock Island Prison	Rocking Out	30–60 seconds	2.5-1.3
Ardougne Spice Stall	65	81	Spice	East Ardougne	None	60 seconds	1
Magic stall	65	100	air, earth, fire, water, or law rune	Ape Atoll	Monkey Madness	80 seconds	1.3
Scimitar stall	65	160	iron scimitar, steel scimitar	Ape Atoll	Monkey Madness	80 seconds	1.3
Gem stall	75	160	uncut sapphire, uncut emerald, uncut ruby, uncut diamond	East Ardougne, Keldagrim	The Giant Dwarf for Keldagrim	3 Minutes	0.9

• In Keldagrim, stalls often differ in respawn time and their experience given. The gem and silver stalls respawn twice as fast, but yield half the experience. The bakery stall, however, respawns twice as slow, but gives twice the experience.
• Players cannot steal from the stalls in Ape Atoll with a Greegree equipped.

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	XP	Items	Location	Respawn time	XP/s
10-coin chest	13	7	10 coins	Ardougne, Rellekka, 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	3 coins, nature runes	Ardougne, Rellekka	21 seconds	1.2
50-coin chest	43	125	50 coins	Ardougne	55 seconds	2.3
Arrowtip chest	47	150	5 steel arrowtips, 20 coins	Hemenster, Rellekka	210 seconds	0.7
Blood rune chest	59	250	500 coins, 2 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 on north and south wings of second level. After looting "Suddenly a second magic trap triggers," sending you to Witchaven (Unless wielding Ardougne Cloak 3, then you are sent to the north-most bank in Ardougne.).	400 seconds	1.25

Lockpick required

Chest	Level	Lockpick XP	Search XP	Items	Location	Respawn time
Chest (Rogues' Castle)	?	300	60	4-243 coins, tiny plated steel salvage, medium plated steel salvage, 1 gold stone spirit, 2-5 blood runes	Rogues' Castle	None
Dorgesh-Kaan Average Chest	52	200	0	Various, see article	Dorgesh-Kaan	210 seconds
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	-	-	Port Sarim	No
Door to 10-coin chest	1	3.5	East Ardougne	No
Door to Nature rune chest	14	15	East Ardougne	No
Ardougne house door	14	15	East Ardougne	No
H.A.M. entrance	15	3.8	NE of Lumbridge	No
Magic axe hut door	32	25	Level 54 Wilderness	Yes
Ardougne sewer gate	32	25	Ardougne sewers	No
Pirates' Hideout	39	35	Level 54 Wilderness	No
Chaos druid tower	46	37.5	North of Ardougne	No
Paladin door	61	50	Ardougne Castle	No
Yanille dungeon door	82	50	Yanille	Yes

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.

Other

Name	Level	Exp.	Location	Possible loot	Stun time (seconds)	Stun damage
Candle table	20	20	Entrana church	Candle	1	10 - A higher power smites you.
Wire machine	44	22	Dorgesh-Kaan	Cave goblin wire	5	50
Wall Safe	25	70	Rogues' Den	10, 20, 30, 40 coins, Uncut gems (Sapphire through Ruby)	1	10 - 60

Agility benefits

A player performing a double pickpocket.

As of the 19 January 2010 update, adventurers with high Agility and Thieving levels now stand a chance of pickpocketing double, triple or even quadruple the usual amount of loot from unsuspecting targets. When this happens, an animation with the player rapidly alternating their hands while pickpocketing the victim will be shown. A grab will be made for each bonus looting one does, and the hands will get a "sparkle" applied to them. Additional experience is NOT gained acquiring these random influxes of loot, only the standard amount of experience for a single pickpocket.

Temporary boosts

Main article: Temporary skill boost

A player wearing a Thieving cape and performing the Skillcape emote.

• A Bandit's brew, purchased at the desert bandit camp for 650 coins, will boost thieving by 1 level.
• A yellow spicy stew has the potential to raise or lower the thieving level by up to 5 levels.
• The sq'irkjuices from the Sorceress's Garden minigame raises thieving between 1 and 3 depending on the type.
• The Thieving Fingers special move of a magpie will boost thieving by 2 (requires Summoning level 47).
• The Abyssal Stealth special move of an Abyssal lurker will boost both thieving and Agility by 4 levels (requires Summoning level 62).
• Operating or equipping the Thieving cape will boost one's thieving level by 1, from 99 to 100.
• Eating a Sourberry boosts thieving by 2, but reduces Defence by 1. These berries require 86 Farming to grow and are stackable.
• A God banner may boost thieving by 2 levels for 30 minutes a day.

Useful items

• Ardougne cloak 1 is a cloak that reduces your chance of being caught when stealing from the stalls in Ardougne market. Its upgrade, Ardougne cloak 2, adds a better chance of pickpocketing in Ardougne. Its upgrade, Ardougne cloak 3, gives a better chance of stealing and pickpocketing anything in RuneScape. Its upgrade, Ardougne cloak 4, allows same bonuses as its downgrade.
• Gloves of silence are degradable gloves that improve the success rate of pickpocketing. They require a Crafting level of 64 to make and a Hunter level of 54 to wear. After completing Plague's End, the player can instead wear the undegradeable Exoskeleton bracers, as long as the player has a Hunter level of 75 and a Thieving level of 75.
• Five-finger discount aura is an aura that increases your chance of Thieving by 3%. Its upgrade, Greater five-finger discount aura, increases it by 5%. Its upgrade, Master five-finger discount aura, increases it by 7%. Its upgrade, Supreme five-finger discount aura, increases it by 10%. Its upgrade, Legendary five-finger discount aura, increases it by 15%.
• Featherfingered necklace is a necklace that allows a chance to take no damage and avoid stun when caught thieving.
• Black ibis outfit is 4-part outfit made from Black ibis mask, Black ibis body, Black ibis legs and Black ibis boots which gives a total of 5% experience boost when worn completely (1% per outfit + 1% set bonus). Each part can be worn for their respective bonus.
• 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 2kg per piece equipped (8kg total). It can be worn instead of the Black Ibis outfit and Gloves of Silence for their bonuses if the player has unlocked them.
• The master camouflage outfit is a Thieving outfit that is acquired from combining the Keldagrim, Prifddinas, and Desert camouflage outfits. These give the effects of some of the above gear, in combination with additional effects. For full bonusses see the master camouflage outfit page.
• The Thieving cape gives the effects of the Ardougne cloak, and notes any notable items obtained while pick pocketing
• The Cheeky monkey pet, which was only obtainable during the RuneScape Road Trip in 2014, can block one hit per minute for a failed pickpocket.

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 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. However, players can get it even when they are not thieving. It is possible for players to throw rotten tomatoes at the trapped player, although it won't do any damage. The rotten tomatoes can be bought for 1gp each and can't be bought while you are currently 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:

• Pyramid Plunder - The desert city Sophanem has a pyramid where you can thieve for artefacts, including the Pharaoh's sceptre. 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 (see bottom of page).
• Flash Powder Factory - This is a minigame that replaced the old Rogues' Den minigame. The aim of the game is to make flash powder. This can be obtained by mixing reagents from the reagent machines A and B, marked with blue and orange arrows on the minimap respectively. To navigate the map, players must pass agility obstacles that separate each room. Players are rewarded with points which can be used to buy Agility and Thieving experience or pieces of the factory outfit from Brian O'Richard.
• Sorceress's Garden - An interesting minigame where you dodge guards and try to get fruits to make sq'irkjuice. Requires patience, pestle and mortar, beer glasses, 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. Empty beer glasses can be obtained for free at the shelves at the Sorceress's house. Also, a possible alternative source of Herb collecting. Completion of the Diamond in the Rough quest is needed to play.
• Stealing Creation - A combat and skilling minigame where you try to produce more sacred clay items than the other team. In the game, you may pickpocket others to gain items from their inventory.
• Heist - A cops and robbers game where robbers try to secure loot undetected while guards attempt to uncover and arrest the robbers before time runs out. Points earned can be exchanged for bonus experience in thieving and hunter.

Strange rock

Although the examine text of the Thieving strange rock says "borrowed from a pocket" you can obtain it by picking pockets, stealing from stalls, and stealing from chests. They 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) and pickpocketing volunteers and a pickpocketing trainer for pickpocketing, as well as 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 knock out 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
• 11 - Perils of Ice Mountain
• 13 - The Lost Tribe
• 14 - The Giant Dwarf
• 15 - Watchtower
• 17 - The Hand in the Sand
• 21 - Tribal Totem
• 22 - 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
• 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 - 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

Achievements

• Slivers of Camouflage ( 10) – Own the Master Camouflage outfit.
• A Thief Beyond Belief ( 20) – Steal from each of the listed types of merchant stalls.

Update history

The update history project is a work-in-progress – not all updates to this topic may be covered below. See here for how to help out!

• 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.

• 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 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 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.

Trivia

• When you complete While Guthix Sleeps, and you use one of your 100k xp on thieving you get the message: "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 you receive exp in thieving from the seasonal guthix butterflies.
• After the EoC 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. Also, freedom does not prevent further stuns from pickpocketing, even during its 'stun prevention period'.

See also

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

References

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