Was Bilbo Baggins an actual burglar?

Question

This is assuming that Gandalf did not have a sixth sense about Bilbo having a much bigger role to play in the quest; and ignoring the fact that Hobbits are generally more difficult to be detected compared to other races.

To try and support this question, I recently read a post on another site concerning Hobbits and crime which briefly describes a policing force in The Shire who are known as The Shirriffs. Although not a lot of serious crime occurs in The Shire (this is ignoring Saruman and his merry band of Ruffians), there are still a few instances where there were theft:

• Vegetables being stolen from Farmer Maggot, particularly by our Merry and Pippin
• Sackville-Bagginses stealing silverware

Also, Bilbo is related to the Tooks who were not seen as being "good hobbits":

Tooks were mainly of Fallohide Hobbit stock, and were more adventurous than the other Hobbits. They also had quite a reputation for unusual behavior, a quality not exactly valued by most hobbits. For this reason they were seen as less respectable, and for the same reason they were one of the richer clans.

So it seems that our dear friend Bilbo has blood from both adventurers and criminals, which could also explain his wealth to some extent.

The question: Is there any evidence to suggest that Bilbo did have a criminal past, hence why he was given the title "Burglar"?

Answer 1

No. He isn't a burglar (by trade).

Gandalf is the one who identifies him as a potential "burglar" at the start of The Hobbit, spotting in him intelligence, pliability, an unusually adventurous soul (for a hobbit) and the ability of his people to move extremely stealthily:

"That's right," said Gandalf. "Let's have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.

It wasn't until he actual entered Smaug's hoard that he finally admits to himself (albeit jokingly) that he now fits the title...

His small hand would not close about it for it was a large and heavy gem; but he lifted it, shut his eyes, and put it in his deepest pocket. "Now I am a burglar indeed!" thought he. "But I suppose I must tell the dwarves about it-some time. They did say I could pick and choose my own share; and I think I would choose this, if they took all the rest!

Answer 2

I have read The Hobbit and LOTR and checked the wiki just to be sure I was right. Althought Bilbo has ties to the Tooks he was an honorable person (or hobbit). He didn't steal. He DID however fit the job when the dwarves needed him. They needed someone sneaky to steal the Arkenstone from Smaug and to also aid their adventure. Hobbits are naturally quiet, sneaky people as their feet don't make a lot of noise when they walk. Only in The Hobbit was Bilbo a burglar.

Answer 3

Yes. Bilbo is a thief. If you find a ring and 10 minutes later in the same location, in the same place, someone starts screaming I lost my ring and the ring you found is the same ring and you fail to return the ring --- that makes you a thief. Your retention of someone else's property, knowing who the owner is, and the certainty that the property is in fact in your hands, makes Bilbo a thief.

And, if you think about it, doesn't Smeagol answer the question, What have I got in my pockets --- by screaming about the ring? So according to the "game" that he and Bilbo were playing, Bilbo should have given him the ring back.

Of course, giving the ring back would have meant death for Bilbo, so we understand why he didn't give it back. And, of course, the terms of the riddle game is not binding when a loss means you die at the hands of a crazy Gollum. But, Bilbo is perhaps more of a thief than we realize and Gandalf is either correct about Bilbo when he chooses him --- or Gandalf has "made" Bilbo into a thief by characterizing him as one.