Apparently you can't steal if the item is in red letters(You'll get caught). So if you see something on a desk and someone there. You can PICKUP.. the item and leave the room or hallway and(out of view) duck down and see if your hidden. Now you can take it without getting caught.

Yes. There's already 1 million videos on youtube how to rob Van Graffs.

Step 1: Find the phat lootz
Step 2: Steal the phat lootz
Step 3: Don't get caught
Step 4: Profit

This is how to steal without gettiing caught.

You forgot the most important step:

Step 1: Find the phat lootz
Step 2: Steal the phat lootz
Step 3: Don't get caught
Step 3.5: ???
Step 4: Profit

What step is that? All I see is question marks.

Stealthboy or sneak.

You can still steal from right under their noses already though.
You lose karma..but so what ? Nobody cares.
I stole everything on my way to Vegas

Just crouch by what you are going to open or steal..wait for the " Hidden" message and commit larceny.
Stealthboys are too rare for general thievery.

I stole both skill books at the place next to the quarry with 2 guys in the room..with low stealth. ( just crouched by the book and waited for that Hidden icon ) If they can't see you they can't catch you.
Cleaned out the first NCR outpost the same way..


Or you can just pick it up and carry it to another room and then steal it.

because nothing in oblivion was more annoying than having the whole city try to kill you because you touched someones yarn.

i use the sneak mode. works about 90% of the time. but once in awhile somebody will spot just as i grab an item.