Cryptic crossword clue
Start, as thieves may, to engage with two breaking in 3-4

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word HOT-WIRE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
H
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T
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W
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Start, as thieves may" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case start, as thieves may = hot-wire.
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 HOT-WIRE mean?

HOT-WIRE verb
  1. To start an automobile engine by bypassing the ignition key wiring
  2. To steal a vehicle by bypassing the ignition key's security

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