Burglars and Robbers Crafts

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Thievery and banditry were ‘dishonourable professions’, whose practitioners were often known in the wider area - that is, if they could evade justice long enough.
Petty theft most often happened in villages, town markets or taverns. In short, where thieves could hide in the crowd. But people were in greater danger in the open countryside, outside their settlements, or in remote villages, where victims could rarely call for help. Bandits therefore often threatened merchants and travellers on the road, especially around the richer towns, where they flocked to do business.
Some bands of robbers were organised and operated under the auspices of rebelious nobles who profited from their actions. At times they even resorted to raiding entire villages or towns. They would then sell off their loot in markets or taverns.
The execution books give us evidence of the fate of those, who became involved with bandits. In one of them, we read about Jan Zizka, that: ‘He steals herrings and killed a hired hand of the Rosenberg’s.’

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