Crossword Genius

As pickpocket maybe faint, being identified to police (5-8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

light-fingered

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'as pickpocket' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'faint being identified to police' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'faint' could be 'light' and 'light' is found within the answer.
'being' could be 'red' (red is a kind of being) and 'red' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'maybe' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for light-fingered that I've seen before include "Likely to steal" , "Prone to steal" , "Given to thieving" , "Liable to steal" , "Adept at thieving" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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