noun
looter at a fire; thief at a fire scene
Abbreviation of 火事場泥棒. Refers specifically to someone who steals during the chaos of a fire.
See also: 火事場泥棒
火事泥が現場から貴重品を盗んだ。
A looter stole valuables from the fire scene.
noun
opportunistic criminal during a crisis
Extended from the literal fire-looting sense; used for anyone who exploits a disaster or emergency to commit crimes. Less common than the literal sense.
震災の混乱に乗じて火事泥が暗躍した。
Opportunistic criminals took advantage of the earthquake chaos.
Full form of 火事泥; more explicit and slightly more formal.
Abbreviation of 火事場泥棒 (kajiba dorobō, 'fire-scene thief'), combining 火事 (kaji, 'fire') and 泥 (doro, short for 泥棒, 'thief').