Sile Doty (August 30, 1800 – March 12, 1876) was a robber, burglar, horse thief, highwayman, counterfeiter, and criminal gang leader.

[3] As a child, he stole toys from his siblings, a pen knife from his teacher, and a horseshoe from a blacksmith, not because he needed or wanted these things, but for the excitement and pleasure he took from evading detection.

In the winter of 1818, Doty learned blacksmithing and used his new skills to outfit himself with a complete set of skeleton keys and burglary tools.

Doty typically employed disguises, false identities, misdirection, and other nonviolent means, but when directly challenged he would resort to brass knuckles or whatever was at hand.

At night he and his associates would break into homes, places of business, and stables using skeleton keys and relocking doors after leaving.

By the time Doty was ready to leave town, he would have scouted out a fast horse to steal, in order to make his getaway.

During the summer of 1822, Doty learned sailing by working on a boat traveling up and down the Saint Lawrence River, and in the process managed to fill a trunk with pilfered valuables.

In the spring of 1823, finding himself hotly pursued by his victims from throughout the northeastern United States, Doty decided to ship out for Quebec City, from which he took passage first to Halifax, thence to Liverpool, England.

Doty spent the winter of 1824–1825 at his father's home in Bangor, New York, perfecting his metalworking skills and courting Sophia Adams, whom he married in the spring of 1825.

The following winter Doty was arrested in Michigan for stealing a large number of buffalo robes and several sets of harness and sent to the penitentiary for two years.

Using two knives hidden in his belt, Doty broke out of jail once more and headed for the Mexican–American War, reaching General Zachary Taylor's army at Camargo about September first.

Even though Doty could not resist stealing small items like horseshoes, he was trusted by his jailors to work alone outdoors at various farm chores, and he was released two years early for good behavior on September 1, 1866.

Despite being in his seventies by the time he completed this sentence, Doty continued his criminal career until his death at the home of his son in Reading, Michigan.

[8] A small cave in Hillsdale County, Michigan in the Lost Nations Game Area is named for him, and it is said to be where he held stolen horses.