Thugs

Thugs are criminals within Gotham City. During Batman's early years, Thugs were citizens of Gotham in hard times. A decade later, they are now hired help that enjoys the criminal life.

Arkham Origins Incident
Gotham thugs patrolled North and South Gotham during Batman's early days. They acted alone or in small groups. They were not affiliated with the city's major crime bosses or supervillains. Many were recruited later. They can be observed planning robberies, discussing their crimes, or even attempting to clear out an ATM in Jezebel Plaza.

A con artist named Robert Hanes faked being a client for an account manager named Bryan Murphy, to gain access to account numbers. When Murphy tried to back out, Hanes threw him off a rooftop in Jezebel Plaza. Batman locates Hanes in the Diamond District and apprehends him for the police. In Amusement Mile, Chucky Berks ran a counterfeiting scheme until journalist Owen Grant exposes him. Berks shot Grant after the former caught the journalist taking pictures of him. Batman locates Chucky Berks and restrains him for the police, bringing him to justice for Grant's murder.

Arkham Knight Incident
Two years after allegedly being eaten by Killer Croc and one year after the gang war between Two-Face, Penguin, and The Joker, Scarecrow returns to Arkham City. After reemerging, he unites Gotham's supervillains, the henchmen of Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and Penguin, and Arkham Knight's personal army. Their plan is to create chaos, fear, and destruction in Gotham. Their ultimate goal is to kill Batman.

Trivia

 * Throughout Knight, some thugs can be heard talking about having children. One mentions that he can't riot too late as he has to watch his kids on the next day; another asks for a reminder to break into a toy store to get his kids gifts.
 * Interestingly, there are no female thugs.
 * In Origins, a thug complains that he should be "enjoying" Christmas with his girlfriend. Another thinks about breaking into a jewelry store to get his girl a Christmas gift.
 * Thugs refer to super criminals and Batman as "Freaks".
 * Following the Knightfall Protocol, some thugs can be heard saying that they have had it with working for Two-Face, Riddler, and Penguin, deciding to go solo.