ring of thieves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ring of thieves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of individuals who engage in theft or criminal activities together. Example: "The police managed to dismantle a notorious ring of thieves that had been operating in the city for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There she had risen in the underworld and come to lead an international ring of thieves before settling in London as a member of the idle rich.

The New York Times - Books

Authorities said that a ring of thieves hit the building night after night over a three-month period, taking out more than 150,000 pounds of copper.

The New York Times

(There have been denials). It is strange, when it is revealed that you know someone is at the center of a ring of thieves, to have him considered a gentleman for not being offended.

The New Yorker

Working with a ring of thieves and racketeers who bought protection from the Bonanno crime family, Mr. Domingo ran a chop-shop operation that helped feed a stolen-parts enterprise.

The New York Times

It is strange, when it is revealed that you know someone is at the center of a ring of thieves, to have him considered a gentleman for not being offended.

The New Yorker

As an international ring of thieves plundered the credit card numbers of millions of Americans, investigators struggled to figure out who was orchestrating the crimes in the United States.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

So, these rings of thieves that were operating across the country would bring merchandise into our Lowe's.

Columbia University

A good many of those laptops are being stolen at airports, sometimes by organized rings of thieves.

The New York Times

Organized rings of thieves with knowledge of the pipelines, allied with corrupt government and military officials, are believed to siphon huge quantities of fuel with sophisticated equipment and trucks.

The New York Times

Though such devices often deter the lone shoplifter, they aren't obstacles to organized rings of thieves who have the resources to remove tags and the savvy to circumvent some security systems.

Los Angeles Times

REPORTER AT LARGE of how a ring of jewel thieves are rounded up after being trailed for months.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group of thieves, specify the nature of their crimes (e.g., "credit card ring", "art theft ring") to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "ring of thieves" when a more specific term like "fraud syndicate" or "burglary gang" accurately reflects the nature of the criminal activity. The precision makes your writing more credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ring of thieves" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts, denoting an organized group involved in theft.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ring of thieves" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase to describe an organized group of thieves. Ludwig AI validates its presence in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While various alternative phrases exist, such as "band of robbers" or "theft ring", choosing the most accurate term depends on the specific type of criminal activity involved. It's also used in academic texts. Use precision in describing criminal activity to enhance the clarity and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

theft ring

Swaps the order of words; it keeps the core meaning and concept about theft.

band of robbers

Substitutes "thieves" with "robbers", implying the use of force or threat in their criminal acts.

criminal gang

Replaces "ring" and "thieves" with broader terms; "gang" implies a more violent or organized criminal group.

group of burglars

Replaces "thieves" with "burglars", specifying the crime as breaking into buildings to steal.

organized crime group

Emphasizes the structural aspect of the group's illegal activities.

criminal syndicate

Highlights the organized and large-scale nature of the criminal enterprise.

clique of criminals

Uses "clique" to suggest a close-knit, exclusive group, and "criminals" as a broader term.

pack of pickpockets

Narrows the type of theft to pickpocketing, implying stealth and targeting individuals.

cadre of looters

Indicates a group engaged in looting, often during times of unrest or disaster.

mob of swindlers

Highlights deception and fraud as the primary method of operation.

FAQs

What does "ring of thieves" mean?

A "ring of thieves" refers to an organized group of individuals who collaborate to commit thefts or other related crimes.

What is a more formal way to say "ring of thieves"?

More formal alternatives include "organized crime group" or "criminal syndicate", which emphasize the structured nature of the group's activities.

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

Example: "The authorities successfully dismantled a notorious ring of thieves that had been operating throughout the city."

What are some similar phrases to "ring of thieves" that I can use?

You can use similar phrases like "band of robbers", "gang of thieves", or "theft ring" depending on the context.