I’m not sure I was clear, I wasn’t referring to the thieves as cockroaches..it really was the way I read it. Totally coincidence, and I meant no offense to dwarves/little people. In hindsight, I could see that what I wrote could be taken as sarcasm. My apologies...
No need to apologize, you were entirely clear and there wasn't anything wrong with what you said. Similarly, I was referring to your humorous misreading as being unintentionally spot-on, and not in any way a reference to their size but to their morals or ( lack thereof).
I would have been delighted to refer to the dwarves' handlers / accomplices as 'cockroaches' as well, regardless of their size.