There's nowt yer but barrels, like he said Cap'n. Not a brain between them' he thought as he pondered the situation. He had seen the pilfering little sneek go into the tavern. He had most definately not seen him leave, and he wasn't here now. Well, unless he hid better than a rat in drainpipe, that is.
Search again boys, and then again.
Go through this place inch by inch. Take up floor boards if you need to, but find that petty little thief. Find him and I double your pay tonight. Blagg the barman watched nervously, the last thing he wanted was some petty guard captain using the tavern as a step stone to promotion. He could risk them finding the hidden celler, many places had hideys and the such, but it was not to his liking.