Crossword Genius

Raffles maybe run once in newspaper, going back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thief

'raffles' is the definition.
(Raffles is a thief in stories by EW Hornung)

'run once in newspaper going back' is the wordplay.
'run once' becomes 'hie' (hie could historically mean to go quickly).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'newspaper' becomes 'FT' (Financial Times newspaper).
'going back' is a reversal indicator.
'ft' written backwards gives 'tf'.
'hie' inserted within 'tf' is 'THIEF'.

'maybe' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for thief that I've seen before include "A robber or pickpocket" , "One's inclined to take" , "'Taffy was a - - '" , "Raffles, say" , "Pilferer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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