house-breaker

In general, if the police catch a house-breaker it tends to be seen as a positive reflection on the police rather than a sign that the society which produced the burglar is irredeemably corrupt from top to bottom.

Exposing and punishing cheats brings long-term rewards to the Turf | Greg Wood 2011

Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he.

Happy Birthday America! « PurpleSlog – Awesomeness & Modesty Meets Sexy 2006

Was he a gentleman, or might he be a house-breaker?

The Claverings 2005

But this area was, again, guarded by an iron rail, which was so constructed as to make it impossible that any one less expert than a practised house-breaker should get in or out of any of the windows looking that way.

John Caldigate 2004

I am a friend of peace, sir, no head-breaker, house-breaker, nor gate-breaker, but I can hardly blame what was done at that time, under the name of Rebecca.

Wild Wales : Its People, Language and Scenery 2004

I like to see a difference between a gentleman and a house-breaker.

He Knew He Was Right 2004

Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he.

Archive 2004-07-01 2004

Mr. Ward's The Shortest Route to Paradise tells the story of Charles Peace, a notorious English house-breaker of the mid-nineteenth century who was finally hanged for murder and while this book suffers from a lot of fatuous social and moral hindsight, it has an air of careful documentation, of sober attention to detail, which invites belief.

Two for the Money Raven, Simon 1964

'_This_, and from _you_!' exclaimed Rust, shaking his thin finger in his very face; '_this_ from you; _you_, a house-breaker, a thief, and last night the murderer of your comrade.

The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, February 1844 Volume 23, Number 2 Various

Now science has proved to us that in every one man there are two men, -- the artist, if I might be permitted to use the term, and the house-breaker.

Duty, and other Irish Comedies Seumas O'Brien