Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a kleptomaniac, an obsessive shoplifter; also attrib.

1880		New Babylon 5/1: Found wanting, too, in honesty—though needing not a meal— / For let them say ’tis ‘klepto,’ I distinctly urge its ‘steal’.
[1890		Chambers Jrnl 67: Was he a klepto- or dipso- or anything else horrid ending in o-maniac].
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 17 July 2nd sect.9/1: They Say [...] That as the humble klepto. could not then be police-courted without a scandal all went with a warning.
1914		Dry Goods Reporter 45 39/1: The notion girl [...] even had bells on the drawers of the spool silk case so they would notify her if any klepto got too fresh in helping herself.
1924		Morn. Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 1 Nov. 13/5: [headline] A Confirmed Klepto [...] Gilroy [...] has sticky fingers where other people’s property is concerned.
1934		Northen Standard (Darwin, NT) 23 Feb. 13/1: [headline] abo klepto [...] an aboriginal known as Alfie was charged with illegal possession of the articles.
1956		N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 93: There were creepers and kleptoes and zanies and dipsos.
1958		Mad mag. Sept.–Oct. 10: Irving and I have many toys to play with. Our mother gets them at the store. Our mother is a klepto.
1970		D. Ponicsan Last Detail 108: Christ, you really are a klepto, ain’t you?
1981		Graziano & Corsel Somebody Down Here Likes Me, Too 131: One of my klepto pals.
1988		Bulletin issues 5626-33 105/2: Tea leaf: klepto.
2000		J. King It’s a Girl Thing 73: You might have a klepto sister or an aunt with a giant butt, or your mom may have a police record.
2011		S. Brezenoff Absolute Value of -1 154: I’m not some klepto. I just sometimes take shit for laughs.
2020		C. Hiaasen Squeeze Me 29: Some of the town’s richest geezers were avid kleptos.
2024		J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 172: [H]e was a choosey klepto. He only stole the best .