I'd like to take Jakben's boots from him near the start of the game. I have no intentions of doing the thieves guild.

But when I search his house I see no sign of him, but I killed his Butler Gemellius Axius and took the Imbel house key. I later found him milling around in his dining room. So I knocked him out and pickpocketed him. No sign of his boots. So I decided I'd wait a while. Several days have gone and he's dissapeared. Is he in the Catacombs? If so, how do I acquire a key to it?

If anyone knows Jakbens daily routine would be a great help. I have taken his boots early on in the game so I know it's possible.

I have run into Jakben sometimes in the section where he lives (which I am not remembering which part of town - Talos?) He was out in the wee hours, walking around, and kind of blows you off if you try to talk to him. Other than that, he is usually up in his little attic room. If you tried to pickpocket the boots, I don't know if he has them on his person -it's possible he has them equipped, in which case you would need to reverse pickpocket zero weight boots into his inventory, which he might equip, and then try to snag the boots you want.

Seems like a lot of work. If you are on PC, you could probably just add the boots to your inventory.

Ok I'll hang around in the Talos Plaza in twilight hours for him. In the day I'll see if I can find him in his attic.

I assume you mean the boots of Springheel Jack. He doesn't wear them, they are deep, and I mean deep within catacombs beneath his house. You need the catacomb key from him to get them. IIRC, you have to go through the Jakben Family Tomb first, to get through to the catacombs.

In fact, he does wear them. I have pinched them from his inventory many times.

I'm guessing that he is essential before the thieves guild quest then?
In that case, he does have the boots on him, but I think it's a drop on death item.
So you have two options:
1) Go through the thieves guild quest to that point
2) On PC, you can use the console to add them to your inventory.

He is essential but it is possible to pickpocket him. But I have a plan now, so this thread can now be closed.

K