Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Thief

Created by Maurice LeBlanc during the early twentieth century, Arsene Lupin is a witty confidence man and burglar, the Sherlock Holmes of crime. The poor and innocent have nothing to fear from him; often they profit from his spontaneous generosity. A very popular French character, Arsene Lupin was created as a some-what rival to Sherlock Holmes (who he actually encounters in several early stories). Instead of being a detective (tho he would become one), he is a 'gentleman-burglar'. But he makes a point of stealing from the rich and powerful, and usually gives to the poor and downtrodden. He is witty and charming, so this makes him very popular. There are many books (novels and short story collections) of him, and he has spawned both tv shows and movies.