I was thinking of something like an overly complex rube Goldberg device that you could explain after you catch them. you know, like a conversation piece. Your way is probably better, though. Plausible deniability and all that.
Rereading some shitty pulp fantasy stories called Thieves World. Haven't read them since HS and they were old then.
They're... not bad actually. I always thought they'd make a cool TV series.