Petty crim's pet is about to kick cop over (10)

I believe the answer is:

pickpocket

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'petty crim's pet' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'about to kick cop over' is the wordplay.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'to' becomes 'pet' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'over' indicates anagramming the letters.
'kick'+'cop'='kickcop'
'kickcop' is an anagram of 'ickpock'.
'pet' placed around 'ickpock' is 'PICKPOCKET'.

'is' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pickpocket that I've seen before include "Tea leaf" , "Dip" , "Cutpurse" , "Thief working in public places" , "Artful Dodger?" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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