group of thieves

USAGE SUMMARY

"group of thieves" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in a sentence to describe a specific group of individuals who engage in stealing or robbery. Example: The police arrested a group of thieves who were responsible for a string of burglaries in the neighborhood.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

In it, Gay portrays the lives of a group of thieves and prostitutes in 18th-century London.

Encyclopedia Britannica

[Brooklyn Daily Eagle] A group of thieves in Brooklyn are systematically robbing A.T.M.'s and then splashing bleach at the scene.

The New York Times

On the evening of 19-20 December 1983, the building's nightwatchman was overpowered by a group of thieves seemingly in no mood to embrace the Christmas spirit.

The Guardian - Sport

West Midlands Police have released a video that shows a group of thieves targeting five people in just under ten minutes as part of a campaign to raise awareness against the threat of pickpockets.

Independent

The movie's producer, Piers Tempest, claims to have reinvented the classic tale for a 21st-century audience by portraying Fagin's gang as a group of thieves who use free-running to steal art works from the capital's best known galleries.

Independent

A group of thieves used fake keypads and bank-card slots in two Washington Mutual banks to steal A.T.M. card information, and then withdrew more than $100,000 from 50 accounts over the past two months, the police said yesterday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Groups of thieves riding stolen mopeds and armed with sledgehammers have been involved in several break-ins at jewellers and designer goods shops recently.

Independent

Eliana Guerrero became so incensed by the way groups of thieves were able to freely roam the city's underground network that she now patrols the metro on her own.

The Guardian

There were four main Panther groups, originating from a single group of diamond thieves from Montenegro.

The New Yorker

In September , 1971 a group of stumblebum thieves tunnelled their way into a branch of the Lloyds Bank in the Marylebone section of London and cleaned out the vault.

The New Yorker

"There is no Parliament; there is a group of looters, thieves and dacoits" — bandits — he said in a thundering voice, pointing to the building behind him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "group of thieves", consider the specific type of theft they commit (e.g., burglars, pickpockets, shoplifters) to add precision and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "group of thieves" when a more specific term accurately describes their actions. For example, if they are stealing art, consider "art thieves" or "art heist crew".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "group of thieves" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, demonstrating its suitability for various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "group of thieves" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term for describing individuals involved in stealing. As verified by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news articles, encyclopedias, and general online content. When using the phrase, consider specifying the nature of their crimes for greater precision. Alternatives like "gang of robbers" or "ring of burglars" can provide a more descriptive picture. Although generally neutral in tone, context dictates the register. Keep in mind while using it that overgeneralization is an error, so it is important to be specific about the crimes. Overall, "group of thieves" serves as a useful and correct term when referring to multiple individuals engaged in theft.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gang of thieves

Replaces "group" with "gang", suggesting a more organized or potentially violent collection of thieves.

band of robbers

Substitutes "thieves" with "robbers" and "group" with "band", implying a potentially larger and more mobile group.

ring of criminals

Uses "ring" to convey a sense of organized crime and replaces "thieves" with the broader term "criminals".

clique of burglars

Changes "thieves" to "burglars", specifying the crime as breaking and entering, and uses "clique" to suggest a close-knit group.

crew of pilferers

Employs "crew" to indicate a team working together and "pilferers" to imply petty theft.

league of looters

Substitutes "thieves" with "looters", suggesting theft during a chaotic event, and "group" with "league", implying a formal association.

coterie of shoplifters

Replaces "thieves" with "shoplifters", specifying the crime as stealing from stores, and uses "coterie" to suggest an exclusive group.

pack of pickpockets

Changes "thieves" to "pickpockets", pinpointing the crime as stealing from people's pockets, and uses "pack" to indicate a predatory group.

collection of larcenists

Replaces "group" with "collection", which is less common, and "thieves" with "larcenists", which is a formal term for thieves.

assemblage of swindlers

Uses the more formal term "assemblage" instead of "group", and specifies "swindlers" to mean those who obtain money or property by fraud.

FAQs

How can I use "group of thieves" in a sentence?

You can use "group of thieves" to describe a collection of individuals who engage in stealing, such as: "The police apprehended a "group of thieves" after the bank robbery".

What's a more descriptive alternative to "group of thieves"?

Depending on the context, you could use more specific terms like "gang of robbers", "ring of burglars", or "crew of pickpockets" to provide a clearer picture of their activities.

Is there a formal synonym for "group of thieves"?

A more formal way to refer to a "group of thieves" might be "collection of larcenists" or "assemblage of swindlers", though these terms are less common.

How does "group of thieves" differ from "team of thieves"?

"Group of thieves" is a general term, while "team of thieves" suggests a more organized and coordinated effort, implying a higher level of planning and cooperation.