You could use some more general collective nouns, like:
* A band of pickpockets
* A gang of pickpockets
* A crew of pickpockets
* A pack of pickpockets
You could also use a more descriptive phrase like:
* A nest of pickpockets
* A swarm of pickpockets
* A clutch of pickpockets
The best choice will depend on the context and the tone you want to create.