Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) the pole with a hook on one end that is used to steal items from stalls or shop windows.

1591		Greene Second Part of Conny-Catching in Grosart (1881–3) X 122: Then doth the other thrust in a longe hooke some nine foote in length (which he calleth a Curbe) that hath at the end a crooke with three tynes turned contrary, so that tis vnpossible to misse if there be any snappinges abroade [...] it is made with ioyntes like an angle rod and can be conuaid into the form of a trunchion and worne in the hand like a walking staffe.
1608		Dekker Belman of London G: He that hookes is called the Curber [...] The Hooke is the Curb.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.