落ちぶれる ー stoop

連続スリ犯のイギリス人の女が遂に逮捕、というニュースです。

何と被害者は153人にのぼるということですが、常習犯のレベルを超えています。


After 153 strikes, a British serial thief dubbed by the media as the “Pickpocket Queen of Birmingham” is finally out.

Margaret Johnson was sentenced to 30 months in the slammer after admitting to six thefts Friday in front of a court in Birmingham, the BBC reported. The 40-year-old – who has no fixed address – has 153 offenses to her name, 93 of which are theft.

Johnson’s targets included an elderly woman looking after her grandson who has Down Syndrome, and a heavily-pregnant shopper, police said.

（中略）

“She deliberately targets elderly, lone female shoppers – people she considers easy targets,” said Sgt. Julia Slater of West Midland Police. “Even by her own despicable standards she has stooped to new lows with these offenses.” she added.
(Serial pickpocket jailed after 153rd offense. New York Post. March 14, 2017.)


犯人のターゲットはお年寄りや妊娠している女性など、弱い立場の人たちばかりだったそうです。

逮捕した警官のコメント、


she has stooped to new lows


はスリ犯の卑劣な手口を批難したものです。

"stoop"という動詞は身を屈める、前のめりになるという意味ですが、ここでは落ちぶれるという意味です。

"stoop to〜"で、〜するまで身を落とす、という意味で使われます。