In the year 1905, the New York Sun published a rather ironic story about a former thief who had recently married and was trying to live an honest life. 

One day, while riding in a streetcar in New York City, he felt a slight tug at his shirt stud. Studs were often used in place of buttons on a shirt, and some could be quite valuable. Without moving his head, he looked down and saw a busy hand attempting to remove the stud from his shirt front. 

Immediately, the reformed man expertly worked his right hand behind his back and, with the practiced stealth of his former trade, took the other man's watch. Once he had the watch securely tucked into his pocket, he turned around and said, "Hey, Bill, I was in the same line of work myself not too long ago."