Choose Dickens character, e.g. The Artful Dodger (10)
I believe the answer is:
pickpocket
'e g the artful dodger' is the definition.
(the Artful Dodger is a pickpocket in Oliver Twist)
'choose dickens character' is the wordplay.
'choose' becomes 'pick' (picking is a kind of choosing).
'dickens character' becomes 'pocket' (Herbert Pocket, character in Great Expectations).
'pick'+'pocket'='PICKPOCKET'
(Other definitions for pickpocket that I've seen before include "Thief working in public places" , "Cutpurse" , "Tea leaf" , "Dip" , "Artful Dodger?" .)