Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a thief who operates a hooked pole to extract goods from shop windows.

1591

Greene Second Part of Conny-Catching in Grosart (1881–3) X 86: In Combing Law. He that hooks, the Comber. He that watcheth, the Warpe. The hooke, the Combe. The good, Snappings. The gin to open the windowe, the Trickar.