1662 W. Petty Treat. Taxes 48 Such as have abused their dextrous use of them [sc. fingers], by Pocket-picking, Counterfeiting of Seals and Writings, &c.

a1745 W. Meston Poet. Wks. (1767) 148 He drove this trade of pocket-picking, Of juggling, lying, shamming, tricking.

1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. xi. 57 More..people were bubbled out of their goods and money by it in one twelve-month, than by pocket-picking and shop-lifting in seven.

1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet xiv Jess Cantrips..had the honour to be transported to the plantations, for street-walking and pocket-picking.

1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. iv. 199 As naturally..as the disappearance of watches in a London mob is attributed to pocket-picking.

1900 Westm. Gaz. 13 Dec. 12/2 Returns of pocket-picking. He estimates twenty-five dollars a ‘touch’ as a fair record if there is much money in the crowd.

1927 K. Mayo Mother India xi. 155 These communities specialize, one in pocket-picking, another in burglary, yet others in forging, in [etc.].

1997 N.Y. Times 17 Oct. a20/5 Grand larcenies include purse snatching, pocket-picking and a type of theft called lush working, in which people sleeping on the subway are robbed.

1621 J. Taylor Shilling sig. B7^v T'a Cut-purse, and a Pocket picking Hound.

1658 E. Phillips Generosi Ludentes 7 in Myst. Love & Eloquence Shamelesse, impudent,..withered, lying, cheating, pocket-picking.

a1802 T. Dermody Harp of Erin (1807) I. 118 Encowl at once each pocket-picking chap.

1868 ‘G. Eliot’ in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 3/2 A poor pocket-picking scoundrel, who will steal your loose pence while you are listening round the platform.

1958 F. L. Lucas Search for Good Sense 72 At nearly sixty he married a pocket-picking prostitute whom he had been used to meet in a coalshed.

1999 P. Köster & J. C. Cleary in F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph p. xxiv The pocket-picking Cupid is a subtle allusion..to the concupiscence..against which Sidney's piety tempers her heart.