area-sneakingn.slangrare the practice of getting into the lower floors of a house unobserved via the area (sense 2b) in order to commit petty theft.
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1835 Poor Man's Guardian 11 July Such not very chivalrous enterprises as area-sneaking, or tugging at the watch-chains of an old gentleman who does not wear braces.
1906 Daily Chron. 14 May 6/3 To prevent burglary and area-sneaking.