The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 14 letter word LIGHT-FINGERED
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
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More clues leading to the result LIGHT-FINGERED
- Inclined to steal lamp, getting rumbled
- Inclined to steal? Typist might be so
- Thieving — like ET?
- So thief not heavy-handed?
- Like thieves an issue of the Sun identified as criminal
- Delicate and beautiful containing good colour – like a tea leaf?
- Digital colour profile of thief?
- Thieving identified after match?
- Having criminal urges, Spooner’s struggle was enduring
- Was Rachmaninoff so prone to kleptomania?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Having criminal urges" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case having criminal urges = light-fingered.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LIGHT-FINGERED mean?
LIGHT-FINGERED verb- To take; to steal; to pilfer.
- Having quick, light and nimble fingers.
- Having nimble fingers literally or figuratively; especially for stealing or picking pockets (pickpocketing), given to thievery or shoplifting.