Top 10 Anime Thieves

“Jing: King of Bandits” (2002)

Don’t be fooled by his young appearance, this kid is a legendary thief whose escapades never fail to land him in all sorts of fantastically deadly situations. Along with his ever-faithful talking albatross sidekick (just go with it) Jing’s thefts tend to revolve around him attempting to take an object of great power in every new town he visits…though he somehow always manages to save innocents and win the heart of a different girl instead. This happens every episode. Sheesh, just how lucky is this guy?

“Black Cat” (2005-06)

If you’re looking for a thief for hire then this little lady might be the one for you. Regarded as one of the best in the business the world over, Rinslet is what you’d call a thief with a heart of gold. Oh sure, she likes all things shiny and is a total professional, but she’s also not one to put her own greed above the likes of innocents or her comrades. An ally to both Jenos and Train, Rinslet is certainly a burglar you want in your corner.

“The Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)

He’s the freaking Sin of Greed, how could he not make the list? Granted these days he’s too busy fighting alongside the rest of his fellow knights to do much in the way of looting, but before he was an immortal chilling with the likes of Melodias, he was a bandit in his own right. Besides, his signature ability is literally called Snatch! Allowing him to rob not only objects but also the energy of his opponents. No matter how you slice it, Ban is a thief down to his bones.

“Pokemon” (1997-)

Hey, we didn’t say they had to be successful in their thefts to qualify. While the trio of Jessie, James and Meowth have consistently failed to capture Pikachu for nearly twenty years, you can’t deny that their commitment to their cause is kind of admirable. You would think after the first hundred times they were blasted off they might have called it quits, but nope! Each episode they make a dramatic return, undeterred in their efforts to capture as many Pokemon as possible. Seriously, these three should be held up as icons for all future Rocket Grunts to aspire to.

“Re;Zero – Starting Life in Another World-” (2016)

While there’s no doubt she’s a thief through and through, there’s a lot more to this brash blonde than meets the eye. While her upbringing in the slums has tunred her into something of an anarchist with a cynical view of the world, through Subaru’s time-warping misadventures we discover that she might be of royal blood, even eligiblefor a chance at the throne. Of course being the hardned soul that she is, Felt would rather spend her days plundering. Given how messed up the Kingdom of Lugnica is, she might have the right idea.

“Detective Conan” (1996-)

Anime’s greatest (and tiniest) detective deserves a foe who is equal in wit, intellect, skill, and most importantly; style. And none are more dapper than the monocle wearing phantom thief. As you might be able to guess from his magician-esque outfit, Kaito Kid is definitely one for the dramatics. He’s got flare, is more than a little arrogant, but still has some form of honour, making him the perfect foil for Conan. With a desire to lure out his father’s murderers through his high-risk thefts, Kaitohas more than made a reputation for himself in the series’ hundreds of episodes. Plus, just look at that top hat! Boy has class.

“Baccano!” (2007)

We can’t decide whether these two are secretly geniuses or are just absurdly lucky. Making their way across prohibition America, this unlikely duo of air-headed thieves are bound together by a desire to swindle as well as their undisputed devotion to one another. It really is kind of amazing that amidst so much violence, murder and brutality these two manage to get off so easily. All thanks to their nonsensical attitudes and crazily perfect relationship. Oh, and the fact they drank an elixir that turned them immortal probably had something to do with it as well.

“One Piece” (1999-)

Along with their penchant for making their hostages walk the plank, pirates are generally thievish by nature. After all that booty ain’t going to plunder itself! While the oceans of One Piece are home to all manner of greedy individuals, the most iconic among them would be the Straw Hat’s navigator. Due to a rather traumatic childhood, her desire to steal and manipulate governed most of her life, until she was eventually freed from her financial burdens following the defeat of the revolting Arlong Pirates. That’s not to say she’s let go of all her cat burglar tendencies, because give her an excuse and she’ll steal your wallet faster than you can blink.

“Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters” (2000-04)

Not only is this guy well-known for robbing tombs and stealing precious treasures, but he also snags the spirits of monsters as well! This ancient-Egyptian entity has plagued our heroes throughout as a ghost and a duellist, though it’s fair to say he was in his prime back in the time of Pharaohs. With a monstrous army at his command, including the intimidating Diabound and the rather phallically wicked Zorc, Bakura makes this list just for stealing every single scene he is in. Well, they don’t call him the Bandit King for nothing.

“Lupin the Third” Series (1971-)

You want to know how good of a thief this guy is? He announces what he’s going to steal ahead of time, and he still manages to get away with it! While he certainly can be a comedic figure who constantly finds himself getting shot at, Lupin’s ingenious talent for getting out any situation as well as his undeniable charm never fails to reinforce just how much of a cool customer he really is. Honestly, is there anything that this guy can’t do? Well, besides steal Fujiko’s heart that is.

Do you agree with our list? Who do you think is the greatest anime thief? With new top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.