Question about thieves killing traders

[paths]

I am a lvl 25 glavie/fire/lightning/ice.
Today, I decided to go on a trade run from Jangan to Donwhang.
It was 1 star on an arabian camel (having an inventory of 54 wolju celadons and 1 red silk).
Sporadically on the way, I killed the NPC thieves.
HOWEVER, I somehow died TWICE from a regular character having a thief job suit.
I originally thought that regular (not NPC) thieves only attack you when a trader is doing a two+ star trade.
Am I wrong?

[[SD]TurnipTruck]

NPC thieves always attack, the number varies on the number of stars you trade is.

1 Star = 1 NPC Thief
2 Star = 2 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.
3 Star = 3 NPC Thieves
4 Star = 4 NPC Thieves
5 Star = 5 NPC Thieves

Meaning you must have had more than 1 star.

[StealMySoda]

NPC thieves always attack, the number varies on the number of stars you trade is.

0 Star = 0 NPC Thief and Player thieves can attack.
1 Star = 1 NPC Thief Player thieves cannot attack.
2 Star = 2 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.
3 Star = 3 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.
4 Star = 4 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.
5 Star = 5 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.

Meaning you must have had more than 1 star.

To make sure there is no confusion

[paths]

NPC thieves always attack, the number varies on the number of stars you trade is.

1 Star = 1 NPC Thief
2 Star = 2 NPC Thieves and Player thieves can attack.
3 Star = 3 NPC Thieves
4 Star = 4 NPC Thieves
5 Star = 5 NPC Thieves

Meaning you must have had more than 1 star.

the odd thing was that the player thieves kept on following me and seemed like they were also attacking me. And I had only 1 star...I should have taken a pic to show you .

[CobbZ]

possibly from popping?

Do you mean, the player thief's NPC was spawning NPC thiefs and they were attacking you?

[paths]

possibly from popping?

Do you mean, the player thief's NPC was spawning NPC thiefs and they were attacking you?

Oh...I think so. So I guess another player's NPC thieves can attack you?
It all happened too quickly; from my angle, it looked like the player was attacking me (but i guess not).

[Autumn]

I think if you are in a party the trade level goes up +1. Also I think if the thief decided to PK you he can attack your horse. Some guy did that to me (I had gotten off of it, I was broke and out of potions, the earth canyons will do that to you, and decided to just kill everything on my way to jangan once i had crossed the river). Anyway, he kept turning pink, lucky for me he didn't seem to be very strong and I think some hunters came around and killed him.

Also I think maybe you can take area damage, meaning if they like for instance firebombed someone close to you you might take damage. Whenever I get killed on trade runs by player thieves its almost always at the same area at the junction near the first ferry in Jangan. As a result I almost always take the second ferry and stay off the quickest road, instead opting for the slower but seems to be safer second road/ferry.