Thieving is a member's skill, so if you aren't a Runescape member, then this guide is not for you.
Pickpocketing
Picking NPC's (non-player character) pockets is the first step in the thieving skill. To pickpocket, just right-click the NPC and choose the “Pickpocket” option. However, the NPC may notice you and attack you, stunning you. How high your thieving level is determines how little you get caught.
Stealing from Stalls
Various market stalls are found throughout Runescape. To steal from a stall simply click it. If you fail, the owner may yell at you, or guards, paladins, knights, or watchmen will attack you. Most valuable stalls have many people watching them. One way to steal without being noticed is by waiting until they're dead or distracted by another person, or if they can't see you. Stealing from stalls yields various items from vegetables to gems.
Stealing from Chests
In Runescape, there are many chests that contain valuable items and can be disarmed. The items range from coins to adamantine ore. Also, some chests have other effects that can't be disarmed, such as teleporting you away from it when you steal from it.
Lock-picking
Some doors in Runescape can open by picking their locks. To pick such a lock, right-click it and choose the picklock option when you have a lockpick in your inventory. A lockpick can be obtained by pickpocketing rogues in the wilderness, buying them from the rogue's den for 24gp or other players.
Training the Thieving Skill
Level 1-5:
To get started, pickpocketing men (or women) is your only choice. It's 8 experience points and 3 coins per pick.
Level 5-25:
After level 5 thieving, go to Ardougne. Start stealing from the baker's stall. The food here is more than enough for you to steal without getting hurt too much by guards. By level 25 thieving, you should have quite a store of cakes in your bank.
Level 25-40:
Now you're ready to pickpocket warriors. You have two choices: male (in Al-Kharid) and female (in Ardougne and Varrock Castle). Both give 26 experience points and 18 coins per pick.
Level 40-70:
Pickpocketing guards is next. Guards can be found in Varrock or Falador in large numbers. It may seem like a long time, but it is definitely a good source for money. Guards give 46.5 experience points and 30 coins per pick. You will make over 300-400k off guards when you reach level 70.
Level 70+:
Paladins are your prey now. Pickpocketing them will prove very profitable and good experience. They are found in the castle in Ardougne (castle grounds or in the paladin tower). To get to the paladin tower just go upstairs and pick the lock on the door. Paladins give a whopping 151.75 experience points, 80 coins, and 2 chaos runes per pick. Bring food, the 3s and 4s they hurt when you're caught add up.
Once at level 72 thieving, you can steal from the chest in the paladin tower. Every time you steal from it, you are teleported to the east entrance of Ardougne, bringing with you 500 experience points, uncut sapphire, 1000 coins, adamantine ore, and a raw shark.
