The Thieves' Guild in Ankh-Morpork is a well-organized and highly respected institution in the Discworld, bringing order to the city’s criminal underbelly with surprising professionalism. Established with the support of the city’s rulers, the guild operates under a strict code, licensing and regulating theft to maintain a semblance of lawful disorder. Its members are trained in the art of thievery with finesse, skill, and subtlety, all while adhering to quotas and territories to avoid chaos or excessive crime in the city. Citizens know that, in exchange for an annual “insurance” fee, they are generally left alone—unless they forget to pay, in which case a charmingly polite guild member will ensure they’re “reminded” with an expertly executed robbery. The guild’s members are often seen as dashing and suave, equipped with the tools of the trade, from lockpicks to smoke bombs, and are recognizable by their emblematic black masks. In its own paradoxical way, the Thieves’ Guild has become a prestigious organization, instilling a sense of predictability and, oddly, security within Ankh-Morpork’s otherwise chaotic streets.