In Victorian England, a "fingersmith" was a term sometimes used to refer to a pickpocket. Pickpockets were skilled thieves who would usually work in pairs, with one person distracting the intended victim while the other skillfully stole from them. Fingersmiths were particularly adept at stealing from pockets, hence their name. They would often use misdirection and sleight of hand to steal items without the victim noticing. Fingersmiths were commonly women, and they could take advantage of their gender and appearance to distract the victim and evade suspicion.