18th Century Pickpockets

Last updated: Jan 5, 2024

Pickpockets sometimes appear in crowd scenes from 18th century artwork; the theft sometimes drives the plot of the illustration. See if you can find the pickpockets in these illustrations, and read the resources at right to find out how you can avoid becoming the next victim of an 18th century pickpocket.

To find out what 18th century pickpockets stole – and what happened to pickpockets who got caught – view The Proceedings of the Old Bailey.

• A Harlot’s Progress: Moll is dead at 23 by William Hogarth, 1732
• A Rake’s Progress: Arrested for Debt by William Hogarth, 1735
• Industry and Idleness: The Idle 'Prentice Executed at Tyburn by William Hogarth, 1747
• Two Thefts in One by Paul Sandby
• The Lottery Contrast, 1760
• The Press Gang by John Collet
• A view of Cheapside as it appeared on Lord Mayor’s Day last, 1761
• Satire on Lord Bute, 1762
• Satire on the Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, c. 1763
• The Female Bruisers by John Collet, 1768
• The Country Man in London, 1771
• An Evenings Invitation; with a Wink from the Bagnio, 1773
• Practical Knowledge of the World by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, 1773
• Squire Thomas just arrived, 1778
• Deceitful Kisses, or the Pretty Plunderers, 1781
• Barrington detected picking the Pocket of Prince Orlov, 1790
• A Fleet of Smugglers, with a Man of War in Tow, 1791
• St. James’s day, 1793
• The Lottery Contrast, 1794
• Punch’s puppet shew, 1795
• Les Croyables, 1797
• Ducking a pickpocket, 1797
• The Honest Pickpocket, 1797
• Parisian Dresses for 1797
• Cries of London: Last dying speech & Confeſsion by Thomas Rowlandson, 1799
• A group of women conversing, 18th century
• Five in the morning, 1800
• Angry scene in a street by Thomas Rowlandson, c. 1805-1810
• Placard by Thomas Rowlandson, 1820
• A Punch and Judy show by Thomas Rowlandson