Dying NPC's while pickpocketing

[Nightwolfnl]

This is my first playthrough and I tried to google this a few times without finding any answer to this question, but why do NPC's (like bandits, forsworn, etc.) sometimes die when you steal stuff from them while pickpocketing? Is this actually normal and am I missing something? It didn't start until a day or 2 ago.

When they die, it's after I clicked on a random item to steal, never the same it seems.

[Zefram Cochrane]

Forsworn briarhearts will die if you pickpocket their, er, briar hearts, but other than that it shouldn't happen

[Nightwolfnl]

Hmm, interesting. I did not expect that. Now that I think about it, it must've just been them every time then so thanks for the clear answer. :)

[perico2palotes]

Forsworn briarhearts die when, like Zefram said, you remove their briar hearts. Pickpocketing, however, might indirectly kill many NPCs if you're not extra careful. Namely, pickpocketing inside towns or cities is not advisable. If you want to do it, you have 3 options:
1.) pickpocketing before you complete any quests for anyone in that town or join any factions;
2.) pickpocketing town guards, preferably if you are a member of the Thieves Guild and you're in a region where the Thieves Guild is strong.
3.) you are an imperial and have the Voice of the Emperor power at the ready. I'm not positive a Calm spell will do the trick.

If you get caught while pickpocketing by any non-guard NPC a fight will start. All NPCs that aren't your friends will jump on you. Any NPC in the area that you have befriended (including other members of whichever factions you belong to) might fight in your defense. Once two NPCs have traded blows they may keep fighting (this is actually common) until they get killed, even if you yield, or even if you get caught by the town guards.
If you pickpocket only city guards and get caught no fight will ensue as long as the guard is the first to catch you, because all NPCs will sheathe their weapons before anyone has a chance to hurt anyone. If you don't belong to the thieves guild, or are in a region where the Thieves Guild isn't strong enough, you'll have all stolen goods removed from your inventory. If you belong to the Thieves Guild and are in Riften or another Guild town you'll be let free for ~12 gold pieces.
If you are an imperial you can use the Voice of the Emperor once per day to stop the massive melees that happen whenever a NPC strikes you and there's a friendly NPC around.