While thieves may operate anywhere, the largest number of reports of theft received by the authorities usually are from the heavily populated areas and major tourist destinations.

A crowd allows a thief (or thieves, since petty thieves often operate in a group) the opportunity to select and approach the potential victim without attracting attention.

Carjackers and thieves operate at gas stations, parking lots, in city traffic and along the highway.

Pickpockets and thieves operate on public transport.

He added, "That's not the way a thief operates."

High-tech thieves operated a $50 million telephone calling-card ring, Federal investigators said.

As elsewhere, thieves operate at international airports and bus and railway stations.

This has to be the location of the base from which the thieves are currently operating.

Although thieves may operate anywhere, the U.S. posts in France receive frequent reports of theft from several areas in particular:

The thieves operated from small offices in Toronto and hangar-size rooms in India.