wirer, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

wirer n.

an expert pickpocket who uses a wire to remove objects from his victims.

1857

‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.

fine wirer (n.) (also fine worker)

the most skilful grade of pickpocket, esp. one who steals from women.

1869		J. Greenwood Seven Curses of London 89: Long-fingered thieves expert in emptying ladies’ pockets – fine wirers.
1900		A.H. Lewis ‘The Humming Bird’ in Sandburrs 24: Mollie’s d’ flyest fine-woiker on Byrnes’s books [...] D’ supers has to be yellow; d’ white kind don’t pay; an’ d’ rocks has to be d’ real t’ing. In d’ old day, Mollie was d’ king of d’ dips, for fair!
1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 168: A mob of them Western fine-workers are likely to blow.