Sentence:  Night was the natural time for the <WSD>curber</WSD>'s activities and striking up an acquaitance with a serving maid was an invaluable way of getting a window left open or learning the exact layout of the rooms in the house. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A type of thief who used a ‘curb' or hooked pole to steal things through open windows.