Managed to get rid of rifle (7)
I believe the answer is:
ransack
'rifle' is the definition.
(both can mean to search for and steal)
'managed to get rid of' is the wordplay.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this before).
'to get rid of' becomes 'sack' (as in sacking a worker).
'ran'+'sack'='RANSACK'
(Other definitions for ransack that I've seen before include "Pillage, plunder" , "Harry" , "Search thoroughly and roughly" , "Loot or search thoroughly" , "Rob and despoil" .)