noun
sneak thief; petty thief; cat burglar
Abbreviation of こそこそ泥棒. Refers to a thief who sneaks around and steals small items, often from homes. Conveys a sense of stealth and pettiness.
See also: こそこそ泥棒
こそ泥が隣の家に入ったらしい。
It seems a sneak thief broke into the neighbor's house.
彼はこそ泥のような手口で財布を盗んだ。
He stole the wallet with the technique of a petty thief.
Abbreviation of こそこそ泥棒 (sneak thief). The first part こそ comes from the mimetic adverb こそこそ (sneakily).