Thieving is the repeated stealing of what belongs to others. Petty thieving, caught thieving, thieving from the till.
It describes a habit rather than an act, and it is done for gain rather than out of compulsion, which is what separates it from the compulsive stealing that has a medical name. As an adjective it is a plain insult: thieving is what somebody is called.
1nounthievingThe repeated stealing of what belongs to others.
“The shopkeeper had had enough of the boys' thieving and called the police.”
thieving is a stealing.
Also accepted in games: thievery