Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a robber; a confidence trickster.

1822		(con. early 17C) W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II 98: He is a prince of roisterers, a plucker of pigeons, a controller of players and poets.
1831		N.Y. Gazette and General Advertiser 10 Feb. 2/1: One of the party [...] cried ‘Hawks,’ and the pigeons and pluckers dispersed.