Who the hell is Moira and why did they send thugs after me?

Is it some kind of Fallout 3 reference or is there someone in the game called Moira, if you steal from someone else do they send thugs after you?

Yep. One of the 'random encounters' is that if you steal from someones house and you're not caught, they can send bounty hunters after you to make you pay for stealing from them.

Oddly enough though it only happens if you're NOT caught. How the hell they know who it was I have no idea.

CSI: Skyrim?

I got 3 hired thugs sent after me by Acolyte Jenssen (A frikking priest!) for stealing. It was tough, but afterwards I paid a visit to Mr. Jenssen.
let's just say he'd better healed himself instead of those weaklings.

I haven't stolen anything though and have never met anyone called Moira...

Edit: Oh apparently i've stolen two items... I will find you Moira...

Could you have stolen something by accident?

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1260383-hired-thugs/page__p__19180083__fromsearch__1#entry19180083