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11->''"When any guard wakes up, I'm usually long gone."''
12-->-- '''Garrett''', ''VideoGame/Thief2014''
13
14The Phantom Thief is a special class of criminal. An elusive and fantastic thief who can be long gone before the victim even knows what hit him. Just as likely to be an antihero as a villain.
15
16There is no single set model of the Phantom Thief, but they usually have some of the following characteristics.
17
18* Steals items that are not merely very expensive but often priceless: fine art, unique gems, historical artifacts.
19* Leaves a CallingCard for the intended victim, often ''before'' committing the actual theft.
20* Is a MasterOfDisguise.
21* Uses trickery and illusions to escape undetected.
22* Has a [[TheRival rival]] in the form of a GreatDetective or a [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist stubborn police inspector]].
23* Has a strict code of honor, ranging from [[ThouShaltNotKill refusing to commit murder]] to outright announcing heists in advance.
24* Steals for reasons other than personal gain, such as [[ChallengeSeeker personal challenge]], being a {{Troll}} or vigilante justice.
25* May or may not actually [[ImpossibleTheft break the laws of physics or the common sense altogether]] to achieve their goal.
26* Is meant to be either admired by the audience or at the very least [[MagnificentBastard respected for their wit, audacity, and adherence to self-made rules]].
27
28Bonus points given if the character is known for being a SharpDressedMan sporting a cool hat (especially one reminiscent of nice-looking yet out-of-style fashions). This is particularly common in Japanese media, stemming from the popularity of Literature/ArseneLupin [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff in Japan]]. The Japanese word for this character archetype is ''Kaitou''.
29
30Compare GentlemanThief and ClassyCatBurglar, both of which can overlap with this trope. If part of their motivation is the thrill of stealing, then they may have StickyFingers. See also LovableRogue and AntiHero. Does not require that the thief in question be [[OurGhostsAreDifferent an actual phantom]], though such a character ''can'' still fit this trope. And it ''definitely'' does not refer to a thief who steals ghosts.
31
32----
33!!Examples:
34[[foldercontrol]]
35
36[[folder:Advertising]]
37* The UsefulNotes/McDonalds Hamburglar, although he steals hamburgers rather than jewels or artwork.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
41* The Black Rose in ''Anime/AshitaNoNadja''. [[spoiler:He's really Keith Harcourt, the older twin brother of Francis Harcourt who walked out on the family after his mother died.]]
42* The Nezumi Kid from ''Manga/AkazukinChacha''. He comes into conflict with Chacha and her friends when he steals the Graduation Stamp needed to enable the students to graduate.
43* Kaitou U of ''Anime/ButtDetective'' is a poop-themed thief.
44* The Kisugi sisters trio in ''Manga/CatsEye''.
45* And in Tsukasa Hojo's next work, ''Manga/CityHunter'', you have Kasumi Asou alias Thief n°305, who comes from a line of women phantom thieves.
46* The Man of Twenty Faces from ''Manga/ClampSchoolDetectives'' (and his own manga; note that the manga was inspired by a GentlemanThief by the same name from earlier books, movies, and television).
47* Kaitou Ace from ''Manga/CodenameSailorV'', although he's also the MysteriousProtector [[spoiler:and the BigBad]].
48** [[Franchise/SailorMoon Tuxedo Kamen]] steals objects that he hopes would return his lost memories. He drops the thief aspect completely and becomes a full-on hero after getting them back.
49* Loser from ''Manga/DimensionW'', although he never actually ''steals'' anything...because he's actually targeting illegal coils hidden inside art pieces.
50* More obviously, Dark from ''Manga/DNAngel,'' although he steals cursed items to get them uncursed.
51* Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria (more commonly known as "Eroica") from ''Manga/FromEroicaWithLove'' is a successful art thief who leaves behind ransom cards signed with his catchphrase: "From Eroica with love. Good luck."
52* Psiren of ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003''. [[spoiler:The people of her city don't really want her caught -- it's an {{Expy}} of Venice and will soon slide underwater, so she's the only thing keeping people coming.]]
53* Played with in ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' when the Major is Cash Eye. [[spoiler:A false thief created to trap a CorruptCorporateExecutive.]]
54* Part of the backstory of ''Literature/{{Gosick}}'' involves a St. Marguerite Academy graduate named Maxim, who went on to become a criminal known as Phantom Thief Kuiaran. [[spoiler: A major plot point in Episodes 4 and 5 involves a NewTransferStudent named Avril, who turns out to be Kuiaran's successor. It's revealed that she kidnapped the real Avril and disguised herself as her in order to pull off a heist at the Academy.]]
55* In the BoysLove manga ''Manga/GorgeousCarat'', main character Ray is also known as Phantom Thief Noir.
56* Called out to, but not really played right with Fumi and Sharna of ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler''.
57* Gaitou, the thief in ''Kaitou Alice'', only appears in dreams and steals the darkness inside of people's hearts.
58* The BoysLove manga ''Kaitou Game'' revolves around a phantom thief who is literally known as the Phantom Thief and the nobleman's son he falls in love with.
59* Saint Tail/Meimi from ''Manga/KaitouSaintTail'' is a MagicalGirl style thief who uses {{Impossibly Awesome Magic Trick}}s to steal back property that was already wrongly taken. Notably, she only leaves calling cards as part of her FoeRomanceSubtext with her similarly-aged SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Asuka Jr., who considers her to be his WorthyOpponent. After a MidSeasonTwist, the "detective chasing a thief" storyline stops being literal: turns out, being a PhantomThief can be ''very'' dehumanizing due to the SecretIdentityIdentity problems it induces, resulting in Meimi retreating into her own head and losing her grip on reality while Asuka Jr. starts desperately trying to figure her out before she completely destroys herself.
60* Robas from ''Anime/{{Kiba}}'', who becomes the thief "No Face" because he's bored and wishes for a challenge. It's also hinted he may be trying to help out his family financially since their fortune is somewhat on the rocks.
61* ''Manga/TheKindaichiCaseFiles'' has Kaitō Shinshi ("Lady Thief"), a mischievous femme fatale. She's one of Kindaichi's 2 recurring elusive rivals, along with Jigoku no Kugutsushi ("Hell's Puppeteer"). Unlike the manipulative homicidal maniac Jigoku no Kugutsushi, she's only involved in fun, lighthearted thievery. She can also be likened to a ClassyCatBurglar type.
62* ''Manga/KingOfBanditJing'': The titular character himself; legends claim he can steal the very stars from the night sky- and he proceeds to live up to his ImpossibleThief status; conceding once- to a monument which he admits he doesn't have a pocket big enough to fit. He tends to forgo full disguises as his youth usually works as is; he also enjoys leaving the classic calling card from time to time which all carry his symbol of a black cat face with wingding eyes.
63* ''Franchise/LupinIII'' is based on ''Literature/ArseneLupin''; both titular characters are famously uncatchable and both pretty much fit ''all'' of the listed criteria for this trope, what with the half-Japanese character being the grandson of the famous French thief.
64* Kaitou Kid (literally known as the Phantom Thief Kid) from ''Manga/MagicKaito'' and ''Manga/CaseClosed''. In ''Magic Kaito'' he had a lot of Lupin homages, including the indefatigable Nakamori for Ganimard and Hakuba Saguru popping over from England in place of Sherlock Holmes.
65* X in ''Manga/MajinTanteiNougamiNeuro''. Unfortunately, those aren't [[SerialKiller his only crimes]]...
66* Phantom Renegade of ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'' steals rare medals in order to keep them out of the wrong hands. He would actually do a pretty good job, if he didn't clumsily lose them right after gloating over his successful heist.
67* The hero of ''Manga/{{Mouse}}'' and his three female colleagues, all of whom pose as normal teachers when not out thieving.
68* Hailing from ''Manga/MysteriousJoker'' is its titular character who embodies this trope in-universe. His rivals and mentor are also this.
69* In ''Manga/MythicalDetectiveLokiRagnarok'', Freyr (in his first episode), because every GreatDetective needs a rival.
70* The protagonist of ''Nishikida Keibu wa Dorobou ga Osuki'' is "Kaitou Jack", a thief who steals outrageous things and world treasures.
71* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Nami can steal practically anything without anyone noticing (as seen in the Drum arc). However, she prefers to brag.
72* The titular ''Manga/PhantomThiefJeanne'' and her rival Sinbad are considered to be this, as whenever one of them purifies a piece of art, it disappears.
73* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
74** ''Manga/PhantomThiefPokemon7'' is about a, well, Phantom Thief in the world of VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}.
75** The [[Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries anime]] has an episode where [[GoldfishPoopGang Team Rocket]] imitates a historic thief called the Black Arachnid. Of course, they get their butts kicked.
76** Annie and Oakley from ''Anime/PokemonHeroes'' lack the good intentions of the average ClassyCatBurglar, but are introduced using fancy gadgets and acrobatic maneuvers to break into a library and steal a rare book, while leaving behind a rose and a card with the colors on their respective outfits intersected.
77* Twenty Faces from Kigitsu Katsuhisa's one-shot manga ''Phase 20''.
78* Odoren from ''Anime/PrettyCureAllStars Haru no Carnival'' portrays himself as this. His actions… make it less so.
79* One of the earliest examples is probably Creator/OsamuTezuka's ''Rainbow Parakeet'', whose unusual name comes from his mastery of disguise & ability to mimic voices.
80* ''Manga/ShadowLady'' has Aimi Komori that crosses paths with De-Mo, a resident of the Demon World who forcefully introduces her to the magic eye shadow that transforms her into Shadow Lady, a ClassyCatBurglar that becomes the focus of a police task force led by Bright Honda.
81* ''Anime/StarTwinklePrettyCure'' features the cat alien thief Blue Cat, whose civilian identity is the famous idol Mao. Later on, she fully becomes a Cure, Cure Cosmo.
82* Le Bled from ''Manga/SteamDetectives''. Also known as Phantom Thief Le Bled!
83* ''Anime/TimeBokan'' series "Kaitou Kiramekiman". Set in the near future, the main character are a couple of young thieves named Kiramekiman. Secretly, the goal of Kiramekiman is actually noble, since they are only stealing certain objects in order to maintain peace in the future.
84* ''Kaitou le Vin'' is about a FiveManBand of thieves who travel the world under the name “Phantom Thief Levain” in order to steal rare wines.
85* ''Manga/HenkyouNoRoukishiBardLoen'': Julchaga is a famous young thief who steals expensive items after sedating the owners without being seen, though he fails the first time due to Bard catching him. He also proves to be a MasterOfDisguise and very agile.
86[[/folder]]
87
88[[folder:Comic Books]]
89* The Rogue from ''ComicBook/TheMazeAgency''. He leaves behind a CallingCard informing his victims that their art has been selected for his 'Rogue's Gallery'.
90* ComicBook/{{Fantomas}} (the Mexican comic book version anyway.)
91* Rough Diamond from ''My Little Pony'' arc [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue21To22 Manehatten Mysteries]]. Her Cutie mark and her motif is a diamond, and she is a MasterOfDisguise
92* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Angle Man got a reimagining into a SharpDressedMan who uses his RealityWarper abilities to pull off theatrical {{Impossible Theft}}s and is a rather friendly and flirtatious villain with his own code of honor.
93[[/folder]]
94
95[[folder:Fan Works]]
96* ''Fanfic/ANewWorldANewWay'' gives us the [[MasterOfDisguise Zoroark]]-themed Phantom Thief Fox, whose capers continue even after being relocated to Equestria, even coming with a police officer dedicated to catching her. Both are {{Legacy Character}}s to their respective roles. The kicker? [[spoiler:The current Fox's civilian identity is the current officer's ChildhoodFriend.]] There is even [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/227425 a spin-off story]] featuring them.
97* ''Fanfic/BetweenTheLinesMrQuestionMark'': The chapter, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10979729/75/Between-The-Lines "Phantom Thief Railgun"]], an AdjectiveNounFred title, since "Railgun" is a name, and also RoleCalled because this is an occupation.
98* Doctor Strange dabbles in this in ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', mixing in elements of the ImpossibleThief - things stolen so far include Harry's phoenix feather from the back-pocket of one of the two most powerful telepaths ever to live, Alastor Moody's wooden leg, and [[ItMakesSenseInContext Loki's disembodied head. Twice.]] In the latter case, he actually left a note: "I.O.U. one Loki." Considering that he'd just delivered it to Asgard, after swiping it from under the nose of an extremely powerful necromancer with SuperSenses, it's likely that he did it just to prove he could. All of this happens as part of his usual habit of treating the Laws of Physics as optional extras.
99** It gets to the point that in the sequel, Thor bluntly states that if Strange wanted to pinch the Tesseract from Asgard's vaults, he could.
100* In the first chapter of ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2093421/1/Tales-of-Minako-and-Hotaru Tales of Minako and Hotaru]]'', [[Franchise/SailorMoon Hotaru Tomoe]] poses as one in order to get Minako's attention.
101* Chapter 23 of ''Fanfic/TheNewTrialsOfCardCaptorSakura'' introduces Kaitou Magician, who often manages to steal artifacts without leaving a single clue.
102* [[Anime/LupinIII Zenigata's]] granddaughter, of all people, in ''Fanfic/BattleFantasiaProject''. For extra {{Irony}} points, she's being pursued by none other than ''Lupin's'' granddaughters.
103* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic ''Fanfic/LittleDeceptions'' stars MasterOfDisguise Blank Slate, who is one of these. He is trying to pull off ThePerfectCrime, robbing the royal vault right under the princesses' noses. [[SpannerInTheWorks It doesn't go as planned.]]
104* The sidestory centered on the Black Arachnid of ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines'' fully portrays him as one of these.
105* A [[https://princess-of-the-corner.tumblr.com/post/187120725977/last-ladybug-au-concept-i-promise-okay-thats-a tumblr post]] by [[https://princess-of-the-corner.tumblr.com/ Cornerverse]] has a Phantom Thief AU of ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'', with Ladybug and Chat Noir as rival Phantom Thieves that use their Miraculous to steal from the corrupt.
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
109* Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. 'the Phantom', from ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' and sequels.
110* François Toulour (Vincent Cassel), also known as "The Night Fox", in ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Twelve]]'' and ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Thirteen]]''.
111* In ''Film/{{Foolproof}}'', Leo Gillette, a.k.a. "[[RedBaron Leo the Touch]]", is a thief who specialises in pulling off high stakes jobs under seemingly impossible situations.
112[[/folder]]
113
114[[folder:Literature]]
115* ''Literature/ArseneLupin ''is the TropeCodifier.
116* ''Literature/{{Fantomas}}'', an anarchist whose crimes (supposedly) stem from a disdain for modern civilization. Unlike Lupin, he is a cruel, manipulative psychopath with no qualms at all about murdering people and framing the innocent to face the guillotine for his crimes. His titles include "The Man with a Thousand Faces", "The Lord of Terror", "The Master of Crime" and "The Genius of Evil."
117* ''Literature/TheSaint'' is a modern-day Robin Hood figure who targets corrupt politicians, warmongers, and other low life, and leaves a "calling card" at his crimes - a stick figure of a man with a halo over his head. He's slightly darker than most examples, however, as he is willing to ruin the lives of the "ungodly," and even kill them, if he feels that more innocent lives can be saved.
118* The Gray Ghosts in the ''Literature/{{Shadowleague}}'' books.
119* Conina from ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'' once stole some diamonds from a thief who had himself absconded from a jewellery shop ''having swallowed'' them. She's actually a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot phantom thief illegitimate barbarian hairdresser]].
120* The titular character of the German gangster spoof series ''Radio/DickieDickDickens'' has traces of this, being a Chicago gangster in the 1920s who uses trickery, charm, and his [[ImpossibleTheft impossibly well-honed skills as a pickpocket]] to reach his goal. His son, Donald D. Doberman, is an even clearer example of the trope.
121* ''Literature/OldPossumsBookOfPracticalCats'':
122--> He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:\
123For when they reach the scene of crime--Macavity's not there!
124* Comus from the Creator/ElleryQueen short story "The Dauphin's Doll" in ''Calendar of Crime''.
125* ''Literature/TheSecretLivesOfPrincesses'': Princess Sticky-Fingers. Nothing can stop her. She steals other princesses jewelry simply by walking near them.
126* The Bishop from ''[[Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat A Stainless Steel Rat is Born]]'' is a retired Phantom Thief. His crowning achievement was stealing shipments of cash from the local equivalent of Fort Knox: a sealed crate of money leaves, but when it arrives at the destination, it contains only a single chess bishop. The Stainless Steel Rat himself is rather more physical: it's a rare crime that doesn't involve guards winding up on the wrong end of a gas grenade or a karate chop, something the Bishop calls him out on.
127* Ishimaru Kouta of ''Literature/{{Zaregoto}}'' is supposedly one of these, although we never see her in action.
128* Deconstructed by Anthony Ryan's ''Draconis Memoria'' series. The dastardly Moonlighter was a decent thief, but he got away with it because the upper class loved scandal. Half his exploits were concocted by bored upper-class and sensationalist news (and a smutty novel, apparently), and he never even stole half of what he was accused of. When the Blood Cadre actually got on his case, he was caught very quickly.
129* In ''The High King's Tomb'' (''Literature/GreenRider'' series #3) by Creator/KristenBritain, the character Xandis Amberhill, an impoverished nobleman, becomes the Raven Mask to restore his fortune, following the example of his grandfather, the original Raven Mask.
130* ''The Fiend with Twenty Faces''(Kaijin Nijū Mensō), the phantom thief created by Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo, was heavily influenced by Literature/ArseneLupin, and the occasional rival for Kogoro Akechi, the private detective created by the same author.
131* ''Literature/TheQuantumThief'' and sequels star Jean le Flambeur, a science fiction take on the concept who was inspired by Arsène Lupin both out of and in-universe. While simultaneously FamedInStory and ShroudedInMyth as a "god of thieves", the trilogy actually begins with him in prison, having finally been caught [[spoiler:as the next step in his biggest heist yet]], until he’s broken out the same chapter by a figure in need of the greatest thief in the solar system.
132[[/folder]]
133
134[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
135* ''Series/{{Astrid}}'': In the episode "The Starling", the victim turns out to be the titular criminal, a wealthy lawyer who secretly committed theatrical, non-violent "impossible" thefts, leaving behind a CallingCard stencil of a starling painted on a wall.
136* ''Franchise/KamenRider''
137** In ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'', Tadokoro's team create their own Phantom Thief, 'Shadow', to lure out a Worm that targets criminals.
138** ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'': Kamen Rider Diend's real name is Daiki ''[[MeaningfulName Kaitou]]'', but he's only partway to being a full-fledged Phantom Thief. He has the "theft of valuable objects" and "uses trickery and illusions" bits down but his personality boils down to "real-life {{Troll}}" for his victims (especially [[TheHero Tsukasa]]), and he steals not out of a sense of social justice but because he enjoys it ([[spoiler:though that's just his assertion, in truth it's because he's trying to fill the void left behind by his brother being [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed by a crime boss]]]]).
139** ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' has Zoroku Tojo who was one in his youth, but time was not kind to him until he found [[BrainUpload Cyberoid ZZZ]].
140* ''Series/IlJiMae'': "Don't worry, I can steal anything. After all, I'm Il Ji-Mae."
141* Parker on ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' is this, but she's also crazy and more than a little unsettling due to her lack of understanding for basic social norms. Her mentor Archie Leech is this as well, and a GentlemanThief.
142* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'':
143** In ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters'': One episode in the last half of the series features Kaitou Pink Buster, a rich woman who steals wearing an outfit based on the Go-Buster's out-of-transformation uniform, and becomes attached to Red Buster. In the Alternate world Dobutsu Sentai Go-Busters, her counterpart, Pink Cat, is His sister.
144** The first of two eponymous teams in ''Series/KaitouSentaiLupinrangerVSKeisatsuSentaiPatranger'' is a trio of heroic thieves. As their name implies, they're styled after Literature/ArseneLupin, and they target the intergalactic crime syndicate Ganglar in order to steal back a set of artifacts he originally gathered.
145* ''Series/SpiderManJapan'' has two examples - one who gets kidnapped by the Iron Cross Army and hypnotized into committing crimes in Spider-Man's name, and one who retired five years ago after stealing a highly valuable jewel to look after his orphaned grandson.
146* ''Choukou Senshi Changéríon'', another obscure non-franchise Toei tokusatsu hero show, features a guest star named Phantom Thief Kuroageha in episode 25.
147* The heroines of the ''Franchise/GirlsXHeroine'' series ''Series/SecretXWarriorPhantomirage!'' are thieves who steal corrupt Gyaku Jewels and purify them.
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Music]]
151* The ''Music/MomoiroCloverZ'' song "Kaitou Shojo" is all about this, although they're more interested in stealing your heart than stealing jewels.
152* There are many ''Music/{{VOCALOID}}'' songs featuring this trope, most notably:
153** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0GrJUh-hz8 Phantom Thief F's Scenario ~Mystery of the Missing Diamond~]] by ''Hitoshizuku-P×Yama△'', a song about a theft of an expensive diamond during its auction on an extravagant passenger ship. The song features ten vocalists playing different parts.
154** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_D73nr1Dg The Phantom Thief Chat Noir]] by ''yukkedolce'', where a phantom thief rescues a girl he was falsely accused of kidnapping.
155** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFM70auSz4c Piano x Forte x Scandal]] by ''OSTER Project''. The [[VideoGame/HatsuneMikuProjectDiva Project Mirai/Diva Arcade]] video portrays MEIKO (or any of the available vocalists) as a glamorous, elegant thief stealing an expensive necklace and running away from the police. Fittingly, all the modules designed for this song have the name "Phantom Thief" followed by the name of the VOCALOID.
156* ''Music/SuperJunior's'' music video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvqB6JsRbsc Black Suit]] is about the group planning to steal a suit at an auction, only for somebody else to get it before them.
157* Jacques Dutronc's "Gentleman Cambrioleur" is about such an individual - possibly even Arsene Lupin himself.
158[[/folder]]
159
160[[folder:Podcasts]]
161* ''Podcast/PokemonAdventuresInTheMillennium'' has Phantom Theif Roulette, a French-accented (Kalosian?) thief who dresses in a card and roulette-style outfit and pops in every once in a while stealing things (fake artifacts, library books, subwoofers).
162[[/folder]]
163
164[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]
165* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has a rogue archetype literally named phantom thief. Described in flavor text as a career choice for aristocrats looking for excitement in their lives and breaking into the most secure places just for the thrill of it and often leaving a nice calling card behind rather than stealing anything, it removes the sneak attack, trap finding and trap sense class features to instead give massive bonuses to the use of skills, even more class skills and skill points to spend and more options for rogue talents, making the phantom thief archetype the ultimate skill monkey and infiltrator.
166* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' has a philosophy in campaign and character design called "mirrorshades" that fits into this category. In a "mirrorshades" campaign the emphasis is on legwork, laying down preparations, and heavy use of skill-based characters like the decker and the mage's noncombat magic: The end result is turning a run into a puzzle scenario where not a single shot is fired and the victim of the run has little more than thirty minutes' downtime in their security cameras as a clue as to who stole their MacGuffin. Knowing whether your GM intends to run a "mirrorshades" campaign, its opposite, [[StuffBlowingUp "pink mohawk"]], or something in-between can often be important to players.
167* Gord the Rogue from ''TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}'', who steals for the challenge (and because he loves treasure).
168[[/folder]]
169
170[[folder:Video Games]]
171* Phantom Thief Jade from ''24-ji, Kimi no Heart wa Nusumareru ~Kaitou Jade~'' is an enigmatic and charismatic gentleman thief clad in a silk hat, and cloak, who has been plaguing the home belonging to the Chairman of Hakuou Academy for the last half a year, stealing only treasures containing his namesake.
172* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'':
173** ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'', Mask☆[=DeMasque=] (yes, [[LuckyCharmsTitle complete with the star]]) is a PhantomThief - and he's your client. Your [[NervousWreck high-strung]], [[CowardlyLion flighty]] client. The same case gives us his self-declared [[GreatDetective Ace Detective]] [[TheRival rival]], Luke Atmey. [[spoiler:[=DeMasque=] didn't commit the theft in question - that was Atmey, who was responsible for putting him up to most of his previous heists and was using this one as an alibi.]]
174** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations'':
175*** The game has another in "The Great Yatagarasu", a sort of IntrepidReporter version of the VigilanteMan. The Yatagarasu has two odd quirks compared to other phantom thieves. First; the Yatagarasu doesn't steal much that's tangible. Rather, the thief makes off with evidence of [[CorruptCorporateExecutive dirty dealings]] and makes them public. Secondly, the Yatagarasu doesn't actually send calling cards to the victim beforehand. Rather, the victim doesn't know that their info was even stolen, until it shows up on the news, having been delivered to the authorities alongside a calling card. [[spoiler:Actually, there's [[CollectiveIdentity three of "him"]], all {{Cowboy Cop}}s. One however is TheMole planted in the group to keep them away from a smuggling ring. They are prosecutor Byrne Faraday, Detective Tyrell Badd, and attorney/mole Calisto Yew.]]
176*** Related is Kay Faraday, who claims to be the new Yatagarasu though [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything she doesn't actually ever steal anything]]. Bonus points for managing the unlikely combination of [[HighlyVisibleNinja Highly Visible]] PhantomThief.
177* Trilby epitomizes this trope in ''VideoGame/TheArtOfTheft''. He continues to be one in the ''VideoGame/ChzoMythos'', though he soon finds his chosen vocation can be stressful.
178* ''VideoGame/CookieRun'' has Roguefort Cookie, a jewel thief who can disguise themself as other characters.
179* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' has the Gray Fox, who people believe can slip through doors and become invisible. And no one knows who he is, [[spoiler:because he's wearing a cursed Daedric artifact that strikes the wearer's name from history.]]
180* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' has the [[RedBaron Guardian Angel of the Slums]], stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. Her identity is later revealed to be [[spoiler:the old lady Mireille, who then convinces Cloud, Barret, and Tifa to steal from Don Corneo's secret stash in a sidequest and help out the people from Sector 7 whose houses and livelihood collapsed from the plate falling. Cloud then posits that they've also become phantom thieves after the sidequest.]]
181* The newly-introduced Trickster class in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', a promotion of the standard Thief, is literally described as a glamorous phantom thief. Its members are capable of using healing staves as well as swords.
182* ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'' has two flavors of phantom thieves in the form of Chat Noir and Nightsmoke.
183** Chat Noir is the classic GentlemanThief and MasterOfDisguise who is famous for announcing his heists beforehand. His rival is Barawa who is treated like a GreatDetective, despite being actually a DumbMuscle with a HypercompetentSidekick in the form of Sarya. Chat Noir lives in his fame, so much that he will also try to assist Barawa and the crew if a villain of the week is using his name.
184** In contrast, Catherine, aka Nightsmoke, is a strictly professional ClassyCatBurglar who takes on requests of her clients. Her rival is [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Detective Rick]], who also happens to be a regular in her daytime job as a café waitress. Catherine prefers anonymity and places value in completing her client's requests, but she also has her brand of justice, such as destroying her original target if it could be used as a weapon for evil.
185* Skye from ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon DS Cute'' is widely known as "Phantom Skye". He doesn't seem to steal for any other reason other than for the fun of it (or, should you choose to woo him, to meet with the player). But Skye steals because [[spoiler:he wants to make really good curry. The items he steals are ingredients and other people's curry dishes (to taste them).]]
186* Anzu, the heroine of the VisualNovel ''Kaitou Apricot'', becomes the titular thief at night. Her mission in the game is to steal someone's heart.
187* The protagonist of ''Kaitou Z ~Anata to Heart o Nusumimasu~'' is an antique shop owner who moonlights as a gentleman thief and uses hypnotism to aid his thefts.
188* In ''Let's Kaitou! Nusumi Kei!? -Ano Ko no Heart no Nusumikata, Oshiemasu♪-'', Tomoki seeks to become one of these, so he enrolls in the famous thief school Kaitou Gakuen, and ends up in the same group as Ai, a descendent of Arsène Lupin.
189* Phantom Thief Butterfly from ''VideoGame/LiEat''. They even have “phantom thief” in their name.
190* Risa Atago from ''VideoGame/LightningLegendDaigoNoDaibouken'' is a famous one in Kyoutou Village, although she simply does it because it's fun.
191* The Black Foxes of ''VisualNovel/LoveLetterFromThiefX'', who also serve as possible LoveInterests for the protagonist.
192* ''VideoGame/LoveNikkiDressUpQueen'' has Sapphires the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Phantom Thief]] from the Pigeon Kingdom, whose outfit can be purchased with Association Coins. He is described as an "elegant and handsome" SharpDressedMan who "is in fact, a thief!" The outfit comes complete with his Warning Letter CallingCard.
193* ''VideoGame/MapleStory'' gets one as a playable character, unsubtly named [[Characters/MapleStoryTwo Phantom]].
194* [[ClassyCatBurglar Kasumi Goto]] of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''.
195--> I'm the best thief in the galaxy. Not the most famous.
196** She would lampshade leaving notes and signs of her robberies by saying her partner/lover Keiji got her out of the habit.
197* Neeshka from ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'', although certainly interested in money, mostly sees burglary as a sort of competitive game, taking delight in difficult heists.
198* The Shy Bandit from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'' styles himself as one, though his getup is somewhat lacking.
199* The protagonists of ''VideoGame/Persona5'', known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, are an interesting twist on this trope. Going by appearances, they seem to fit the classic Phantom Thief archetype; all members are either a GentlemanThief or ClassyCatBurglar, uses excessive amounts of stealth in their heists, and even send calling cards to their victim before beginning their heists. To drive the point home, [[TheHero Joker]]'s Persona is a version of ''the'' Literature/ArseneLupin. What really differentiates them from standard Phantom Thieves is that they're less thieves and more {{Internal Reformist}}s; embarking on a JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind and effectively triggering HeelFaceBrainwashing by stealing the manifestations of evil people's desires. In doing so, people normally untouchable by the law are brought to justice, making them a mix between Internal Reformists and {{Cowboy Cop}}s.
200* ''VisualNovel/PhantomThiefSilverCat'': Ginka, the heroine, is a member of a local SWAT team who moonlights as a phantom thief named the Silver Cat.
201* The Mythical VideoGame/{{Pokemon}} Hoopa, introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', is capable of using its portal rings to hide away the treasures it stole. Which apparently include ''entire islands and Legendary Pokémon''. Hoopa would also classify as an ImpossibleThief.
202* The sequel to ''VideoGame/PrinnyCanIReallyBeTheHero'' focuses on a Phantom Thief, who serves as the main antagonist. The Prinnies, using rare items, do manage to catch him, though he ends up getting away via airship. [[spoiler: Turns out he's Lord Junkie, a demon noble who wants revenge on Etna.]]
203* ''VideoGame/RhythmThiefAndTheEmperorsTreasure'' gives us the aptly named Phantom R, a thief known for stealing priceless works of art... only to return them days later without a scratch. The Police always fail to catch him, even after they spot him in the act. [[PoliceAreUseless Then again...]]
204* The ''Franchise/SlyCooper'' franchise is built on this trope, covering each and every point detailed above; even the Japanese name for the series is "Kaitou (Phantom/Wonder Thief) Sly Cooper".
205* In the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series, Garrett is a classic PhantomThief and AntiHero, though he steals for his own gain as well as for the thrill of it. The higher difficulty levels impose a code of honor (no killing humans; zombies and the like are fair game). The {{Fandom}} takes it further still, with a common SelfImposedChallenge being the [[StealthRun Ghost run]] - a playthrough in which Garrett gets in, steals everything not nailed down, and gets out again without anyone even suspecting he was ever there. To clarify, Ghosting means leaving no evidence anyone was there. No unlocked doors (lock them again), nobody looked round and asked "What's that noise?", no broken windows, no doused torches (in Thief 2, which this is very popular for, re-lighting torches is easy), and definitely nobody injured or killed. The only difference is all the loot is gone.
206* ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'': Kuni II’s a phantom thief who takes on various jobs from high-paying clients like governments and large corporations to purloin important items for their benefit.
207* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has two such characters:
208** First, there's Bleublanc, a baron from Erebonia and one of [[AncientConspiracy Ouroboros']] agents. He has appeared throughout the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky Liberl]], [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure Crossbell]], and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel Erebonia]] arcs, testing the heroes by stealing priceless jewelry and giving it back once they've passed his test, [[spoiler:and sometimes even helping them.]] His modus operandi includes stealing items that hasn't [[GrailInTheGarbage been appreciated as much by their owners]].
209** The [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsThroughDaybreak Calvard]] arc would introduce a second that would also serve as a main cast member: Grimcats, an almost literal "cat burglar" who reportedly steals from and punishes corrupt politicians and people who run illegal operations, with few aware of her true identity as top movie actress Judith Lanster. Unfortunately, an encounter with the Arkride Solutions Office lead her to make a string of hilarious blunders that serve to highlight her as the resident ButtMonkey.
210* ''VideoGame/WarioMasterOfDisguise'' features Wario becoming one of these using a magic wand he took from a ''real'' phantom thief. The game's original title, ''Kaitou Wario the Seven'', is clearly meant to suggest both Lupin the Third and the Fiend of Twenty Faces (since seven is actually how many costumes Wario has, besides the basic thief).
211* ''VideoGame/LiveAHero'': ''Vulpecula'', a playable PhantomThief themed villain who has an obsession for the present and the future. His usual M.O. is the theft of major historical relics or the destruction of locations with historic significance.
212[[/folder]]
213
214[[folder:Web Comics]]
215* Geist from ''WebComic/{{Heist}}''. He lives in a superhero universe and ''only his former clients even know he exists''.
216* The unknown rook (thief) in ''WebComic/SnowByNight'', who goes after objects having to do with hearts. Even the other rooks are baffled by this person. Turns out the thief is Snow By Night, a manitou with magic powers, which explains why she is so hard to find.
217* Phantom Thief Kiara of ''Webcomic/{{Aware}}'' ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin it's in her name]]).
218[[/folder]]
219
220[[folder:Web Original]]
221* Cassidy Cain of ''Literature/GrandmasterOfTheft'' is a phantom thief in her criminal alter ego.
222[[/folder]]
223
224[[folder:Western Animation]]
225* The Shadow in ''WesternAnimation/CentralPark'' provides the page's video example, and was notorious 50 years prior to the series for stealing the jewelry of rich hotel guests at the Brandenham and several other New York City hotels, and was never caught. Their calling card was a candy wrapper in the shape of a penis but was unusually difficult for the investigators to find. When it seems like The Shadow has made a reappearance in present day during the episode of the same name, an investigation starts up again. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that the BigBad Bitsy Brandenham had been the Shadow back in the day, using her family's money to bribe the hotel staff to look the other way, and her knowledge of her hotel safes and her ability to go unnoticed to commit the crimes. The crude calling cards were a message to her misogynist father.]]
226* Chameleon in ''[[WesternAnimation/TwoStupidDogs Super Secret Secret Squirrel]]'' is this kind of thief, specializing in classic art. His preferred style is to enter a museum in the daytime and hide as a character in one of the paintings to scope the area out, then sneak out with the art at night when the guards aren't watching. He has a WeaksauceWeakness in [[spoiler:abstract art, as he has problems comprehending it and consequently has a hard time hiding within it.]]
227* Villains of this type were a common one-off enemy on ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangface}}''.
228* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'' features Harry Houdini as a thief who uses his talents as an illusionist to steal jewels. Ironically, he steals in order to fund his true passion of illusionary magic and has to be told outright that [[CutLexLuthorACheck people would pay him good money just to see his tricks]].
229[[/folder]]

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