What triggers a security inspection?
Inspections are random. News events such as a Crackdown can make them more frequent, and a suspicious item in your display case leads to a full inspection.
Probably Stolen Wanted List and Security Guide
Station Security inspects shops for contraband at random. When they find some, your Security reputation decides how harsh the punishment is. Separately, Security keeps a record of crimes they suspect you of; when their investigation is complete, an officer comes to your counter with a sentence, and you either pay the fine or get arrested.
How Probably Stolen security works
For what the game is and every guide we publish, start at the Probably Stolen guide hub.
- Biggest risk: contraband in your display case. The game warns you will be arrested.
- Safer selling: keep illegal goods out of sight, for example in a Smuggler's Bay.
- Allies: Joe Wild can warn you of inspections, clear evidence or get you off once.
Probably Stolen security at a glance
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Inspections | Random searches for contraband; news events can make them more frequent. Source: In-game text. |
| Punishment when found | A warning, confiscation or worse; higher Security reputation means milder punishment. Source: In-game text. |
| Contraband | Four levels: Low, Mid, High and Critical. Source: In-game text. |
| Investigation | Suspected crimes, investigation progress and expected sentence, shown on your Security record. Source: In-game text. |
| Sentences | Fine, Incarceration or Execution. Refusing a fine means arrest. Source: In-game text. |
| Wanted list | Report wanted criminals with the alarm under your counter; false reports are fined. Source: In-game text. |
| Protection | Joe Wild's Clemency, Inspection Early Warning Service, Evidence Removal and Wild's Fixers. Source: In-game text. |
| Game over | Three endings: Arrested, Executed and Framed. Source: In-game text. |
What triggers a security inspection
The Mentor's note on Security inspections is the best summary the game gives: Station Security conducts random inspections for contraband. Your reputation with Security affects how severe your punishment is when contraband is found, and events can change how often your store is inspected. Different officers also inspect differently: some may be open to a bribe, and others may not search every container.
Two things make an inspection more likely or more thorough:
- What is in your display case. When an inspector sees a suspicious item in it, the inspector announces a full inspection. The Mentor's note on the display case is blunt: keep contraband in it and you will be arrested. What else the case does is in our display case guide.
- News events. A Crackdown event announces stricter inspections across all sectors.
How an inspection ends. For low-level contraband an officer may let you off with a warning ("Don't let me see that again"). Otherwise the contraband, or any stolen items, are seized, and you get an Inspection Report listing what was confiscated and its value. Now and then the officer simply overlooks your illegal goods: "Your luck saved you!"
Contraband in Probably Stolen: levels and where to keep it
The game sorts contraband into four levels: Low-Level, Mid-Level, High-Level and Critical-Level Contraband. When you inspect an item, its features can show a contraband markup for its level, a reminder that illegal goods sell for more, which is the point of the risk.
-
Smuggler's Bay -
Smuggler's Bay (Modified) -
Mini Smuggler's Bay
Where to keep it. The three Smuggler's Bays are disguised storage bays "designed to hide its contents from inspection". Remember the Mentor's warning that some officers search every container and some don't; a hidden bay lowers your risk but we can't promise it never fails. The bays and other storage are listed in our backpacks and storage bays guide.
Guns. Weapon Permits let you legally own and trade low, mid or high level contraband firearms, and Security can revoke a permit "in light of your recent activities". The permits are explained in our Probably Stolen guns guide.
Investigations, evidence and fines
Your Security record shows three things: Suspected Criminal Activities, Investigation Progress and Expected Sentence, along with the officer assigned to you and their recommended action. These are the crimes Security can suspect you of, named as they appear on the Security record:
- Trafficking (Weapons)
- Trafficking (Narcotics)
- Trafficking (Restricted Access Cards)
- Trafficking (General Contraband)
- Bribery of Security Personnel
- Fraudulent Misrepresentation
- Consumer Endangerment
- Possession (Stolen Goods)
- Operating Without a License
- Manslaughter
- Other
Relabelling goods is covered under labels in our appraisal guide. Shooting a customer who turns out to be a real person also brings Security in ("You just killed a real person! I am calling this in!"); see shooting augs.
How it moves. The game tells you when Security's investigation is progressing faster because of your increased criminal activity, and much faster when that activity has increased significantly. Your night log warns when "An active Security investigation against you is almost complete."
When it completes. The sentences are Fine, Incarceration and Execution. An officer comes to the store: "We have evidence against you on multiple counts of crimes", names them, and asks for a fine, "Otherwise you will be arrested immediately." You can pay, or refuse and be arrested on the spot. An officer can also arrive simply to arrest you.
How the wanted list works in Probably Stolen
Officer Lun of the Security Department visits to give you a Security Wanted List and tells you there is an alarm button under your counter. The instructions:
- If someone on the list comes to your store, don't listen to them; notify Security with the alarm before they leave.
- Only report them if you are sure it's them. You will be fined for a false report.
Later Lun comes back with new instructions: report all sellers carrying mid-level contraband or higher (low-level dealers "are not worth our time"). Your reputation might take a hit for it, but Security rewards you based on how much contraband they seize.
What reporting gets you. A correct report produces an Incident Report: Credits are added to your account and your reputation with Security improves; reporting a thief or a contraband dealer works the same way. A wrong report is fined, and the game warns that your next wrongful report will lead to your arrest. Your contacts can also tell you overnight when a wanted criminal visited your store the day before.
Can Security end your run?
Yes. Three endings come from Security:
- Arrested: you are locked up in the brig, your store is leased to someone else, and you go back to scavenging after your release.
- Executed: for capital crimes against the station.
- Framed: you are arrested on trumped-up charges and the store is seized and sold to pay a large fine.
Every ending, and how they compare, is in our endings guide.
Version notes and limits
This page doesn't give inspection odds, how much evidence leads to a sentence, fine amounts or the cooldown and fees of Joe Wild's services, because the game doesn't show them as numbers. We also can't say which officers skip containers. We will update this page if a patch changes how Security works.
Probably Stolen security FAQ
What happens if they find contraband?
Low-level contraband may only get a warning. Otherwise it is seized and listed on an Inspection Report, and your Security reputation decides how severe the punishment is.
Does high Security reputation stop inspections?
No. The game says reputation affects how severe your punishment is when contraband is found, not whether you are inspected.
How does the wanted list work?
When someone on it visits, press the alarm under your counter before they leave. A correct report pays Credits and raises your Security reputation; a false one is fined.
Can I get out of a fine?
You can refuse to pay, but then you are arrested on the spot. To avoid reaching that point, slow the investigation with Joe Wild's Fixers or Evidence Removal.
Can Security end my run?
Yes: the Arrested, Executed and Framed endings all come from Security.
Sources and version history for this guide: Probably Stolen sources and versions.
Spot an error or a post-patch change? See how we label evidence and handle corrections in the Editorial Policy.