Abe Greenthal

Abraham Greenthal (January 9, 1822 – November 17, 1889), known as "The General," was an American criminal known as one of the most expert pickpockets in the nation. He was a thief and fence for more than 40 years, and led a nationwide ring of pickpockets.

Biography

Greenthal was born in Betsche, Prussia (now Pszczew, Poland) in 1822, though like many Polish-Jewish immigrants of his era, he would later call himself German. He immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and soon entered a life of crime.

Greenthal made his home and base of criminal operations in New York City's Tenth Ward. He was arrested many times without being convicted, which The New York Times explained as the result of "the lavish use of money and the peculiar influences he could make use of."

Greenthal was next arrested in Brooklyn on December 30, 1885, by New York City chief of detectives Thomas F. Byrnes, for robbing a resident of Williamsburg of $795.

Greenthal was profiled by Byrnes in his 1886 book Professional Criminals of America, which called Greenthal "one of the most expert pickpockets in America."