Rachel stole her father’s household idols: She might have wanted to recover some of the wealth Laban wasted. She may have also worshiped idols (compare 35:2–4). Having the idols might have meant claiming the family inheritance, as later customs indicate. Laban seemed to feel insecure without them. Whatever her reasons, Rachel's theft nearly caused disaster for the family when Laban overtook them.
A wordplay shows that Rachel and Jacob were very similar—Rachel stole (Hebrew wattignob) Laban's household gods. Jacob tricked (Hebrew wayyignob, "stole the heart of, deceived") Laban.