What Does Dreaming of a Thief Mean?
Traditional Interpretation
According to Ibn Sirin and al-Nabulsi, seeing a thief in a dream can most often indicate a deceiver, a hidden danger, or property about to be lost. In some interpretations the thief has also been read as death approaching unannounced, or a change arriving suddenly; the thief stealing something from the house may be interpreted as a loss in the family or damage to one's reputation.
Psychological View
According to modern psychology, the thief in a dream can represent something of value the person fears having taken from them — peace, trust, time, love, or control. This dream can point to a feeling that one's boundaries are being violated, to an inner insecurity, or to the outward expression of a suppressed anxiety.
By Context
For Singles
For a single person, seeing a thief can indicate the need to be careful about someone to whom they have given their heart or placed their trust in vain — that someone who toys with their feelings may be drawing near.
For Married People
For a married person, seeing a thief may be interpreted as an outside influence that could shake the family's peace or the trust within the home — the expression of a protective instinct toward the family and a hidden worry concerning it.
Catching the Thief / Driving Them Out
Catching a thief in a dream or driving them from the house can indicate that the person will recognize someone who means them harm — or a bad habit — and remove it from their life, sensing a danger in time.
According to Ibn Sirin, the Stolen Goods
According to Ibn Sirin, the thief stealing a particular item can indicate the loss of whatever that item represents; yet recovering what was stolen may be interpreted as regaining a lost right or value.