Thumb bandits were prevalent in 2015. They removed people's thumbs to gain access to high security or high clearance areas via the use of thumb pads, and then committed their crimes, usually burglary.

This was no doubt the reason why one of the messages displayed on the electronic readout of the hatbands of Officers Reese and Foley's caps was Do not covet thy neighbor's thumb!^[1].

Appearances

• Back to the Future Part II (In USA Today newspaper "Thumb bandits strike again")

References