British slang While some slang words and phrases are used throughout Britain (e.g. ''knackered'', meaning "exhausted"), others are restricted to smaller regions, even to small geographical areas. The nations of the United Kingdom, which are England, Scotland, W ...

, steaming is a

robbery Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, threat of force, or use of fear. According to common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person o ...

performed on train or bus passengers by a

gang A gang is a social group, group or secret society, society of associates, friends, or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over Wiktionary:territory#Noun, territory in a ...

or large group and often involving some level of violence. Several cases have been reported on the

London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The Undergro ...

and other city public transport systems although not exclusively localised to them. It may also be applied to other

theft Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shor ...

such as shoplifting, involving a large group employing distraction tactics, intimidation or actual violence against staff. In general, the term refers to the operation in a large group and the use of intimidation and violence to commit theft.

References

British slang Organized crime activity Robbery {{Crime-stub

See also

References