In Saxon law, backberend (also spelled backberende or back-berande) was a term applied to a thief who was found having the stolen goods in his possession. The term is derived from "bearing upon the back" and was customarily used with "handhabend". Handhabend (also spelled hand-habend or hand-habende) was a term applied to a thief who was found having the stolen goods in his possession; the thief himself was a hontfongenethef. "Handhabend" is derived from "having [a thing] in his hand".
By extension, handhabend and backberend also means the jurisdiction to try a thief caught with the property in question. A thief so caught could be given a trial of a more summary nature. Almost any theft could be a felony, and the death penalty might be applied.