40d:Thief

In Fortress mode, a thief is a disgusting dishonorable creature that can skulk around the map unseen until it moves adjacent to a dwarf, guard dog or other similar animal, or other helpful creature. When a thief does move adjacent to such, the game pauses with an identifying announcement and moves the game view to include the threat.

There are two types of intelligent thieves: kobold pilferers and goblin baby-snatchers:

Kobold thieves can start appearing quite early (first year) and are generally immune to any traps; they only trigger traps in panic after being detected. Armed with only a copper dagger they offer little threat to anyone, and an untrained dwarf or dog should be able to take them down - but extreme bad luck is always a possibility in any combat situation. While they sometimes steal low value items left outside (intentionally or not), there seems to be a mechanism that makes them target other, higher value items inside instead, too.

Goblin snatchers happily run into any kind of trap. Armed with an iron dagger they should be approached with a little bit more caution, but any average soldier should take them down unharmed. When they get their hands on one of your beloved(?) children, they will stuff them in a bag they carry with them for that purpose. (Needless to say, this creates a very bad thought in the parents of the lost child.)

Both kinds will usually come in small groups of about 1 to 4 individuals. They try to escape once detected and only fight when cornered. Their ability to sneak into your fortress is not to be underestimated; they can lurk around the map for quite some time and wait for their opportunity, even when they are already inside your fortress. They may arrive more or less simultaneously with sieges or ambushes, distraction and general turmoil working in their favor. Guarding any entrance with guard animals is a safe countermeasure though. A successful theft of item or child will be announced once the thief leaves the map.

Certain "playful" creatures will also try to steal items from your hoard. These include raccoons, rhesus macaques and mandrills (which aren't just playful, but downright dangerous). In addition, bears and gnomes will try to steal your booze if they can get at it. None of these animals has any special ability to avoid standard traps.