Crossword Genius

Pay for accommodation for thief (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

footpad

'thief' is the definition.
(I know that footpad is a type of robber)

'pay for accommodation' is the wordplay.
'pay for' becomes 'foot' (as in to foot the bill).
'accommodation' becomes 'pad' (pad can mean someone's home).
'foot'+'pad'='FOOTPAD'

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for footpad that I've seen before include "Sole protector" , "Highwayman without a horse" , "Old-style robber" , "Horseless highwayman" , "Old robber" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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