What is the origin of the idiom "have sticky fingers" and when to use it?

The idiom "have sticky fingers" dates back to at least the early 1900s. It refers to the tendency of people's fingers to become sticky or coated after handling something adhesive or sticky - much like the fingers of a thief might become after stealing or handling stolen goods. It is used to suggest that someone is dishonest, prone to theft, or inclined to take things that do not belong to them.