Thief Simulator: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

Fledgling burglars have been flocking to Thief Simulator to sow their wildest oats for the best part of four or five years now. It’s really only just beginning, too, what with developer Noble Muffin handing over the reins to Crystal Cove to create a second installment for the acclaimed heist series. But that’s still a little ways off yet, so for the time being, the OG Thief Simulator will have to keep the series’ flame alight.

If you have just picked up a copy of Thief Simulator, then there’s a good chance you’ll struggle to make heads or tails of how it all works. Understandable, as there’s actually quite a lot to wrap your head around, believe it or not. For the sake of keeping it to the point and pointing you in the right direction, however, we’ve gone ahead and stapled the five best tips on how to get started below. Need we say more? Here’s how to make an absolute killing in the world of Thief Simulator in 2023.

5. This Isn’t Payday, Folks

If you’ve spent a bit of time with Payday, then you’ll know that one of the quickest ways to garner results in a game that revolves around theft is through brute force and reckless planning. This isn’t really the case with Thief Simulator, though, as adopting a careless attitude will only result in the worst possible ending. Point is, smashing your way into a home and waving a tool about won’t solve anything — and it certainly won’t get you that all-important cash clip that you’ve been drooling over, either.

If you’re looking to flip a profit and refrain from arousing any suspicion along the way, then you’ll need to do some forward planning before setting out to bleed the cash cow dry, so to speak. This means actively trying to purchase intel from your sources, or doing the occasional recon on the property in question. It’s worth noting here that, in order to make the most bank, you’re going to need to spend some time watching from the shadows, learning routines, and narrowing down the search zones. In other words, never opt for the spontaneous route, as it’ll only cost you more in the long run.

4. Study Your Targets

It’s all well and good being able to secure an entry and exit point, but if you can’t remember where your targets are at the time of your arrival or what their actual routines are, then it won’t make a great deal of difference. To counter this, you’ll need to study your targets, and watch them over a rough 24-hour period. Doing this will allow you to set a marker over the home’s inhabitants, which will in turn let you know their whereabouts and, above all, their daily routines. These activities and movements are marked by the slider at the top-right corner of the screen.

In the beginning, you’ll want to enter properties only when the residents aren’t home. You can see when’s best to enter by checking the aforementioned slider. If the slider is in the blue area, that means it’s safe to enter the location without onboarding any unwanted attention. If you can help it, only enter a property when it’s safe to do so, otherwise you’ll put the entire operation at risk.

3. Pick the Right Tools

Every property you enter will have some amount of security, whether it’s a locked door or a gated window. To bypass the security measures laid out before you, you’ll need to purchase a number of specific tools — lock picks, being the common thief’s bread and butter. So, before you enter the grounds of the job, aim to purchase all the necessary equipment from Tools4Thieves on your home computer. Just note that, the more you take with you, the less you’ll be able to loot from the property.

So, how do you know which tools to bring with you? Well, this is where recon work comes into play; carrying out the odd walk through during the day will provide you with an idea of the floor plan, as well as its levels and access points. If, for example, the easiest entry point is on a higher level, then you’ll want to invest in some climbing gear, whereas a locked door will require a sturdier lock pick. These will break, though, so it’s always best to buy several lock picks.

2. Daylight Robbery Is a Double-Edged Sword

As tempting as it may be to go out and rob the entire city blind at night, there are actually times where you’ll find that daylight can actually give you a higher advantage, as most homeowners are out. Knowing this, and how there are no risks of having your cover blown, will allow you to take the extra time needed to secure better loot. The only downside to this, really, is that more people tend to roam the neighborhood during the day — which means finding an entry point can be extremely difficult.

Unfortunately, it all boils down to the homeowner’s routine, as there’s a fine chance that they’ll return home every once in a while during the day, but choose to stay out for the duration of the twilight hours. Again, this is why it’s always best to observe their daily activities from a safe distance for a solid 24 hours before taking action. If you can learn their patterns, then you’ll be able to decide which time of day is best to knuckle in on the goods.

1. Take a Few Practice Runs

You’ll be surprised how easy it is to get caught up in the moment when out on the job and under an immense amount of pressure — doubly so when those pesky homeowners are on the lookout for stolen goods. To this end, you’ll want to do all in your power to prepare for what’s to come, if not by brushing up on a few pointers, then by burgling your own home. Your virtual home in Thief Simulator, that is.

Your home is hands down one of the best places to learn new skills, especially lock picking. And so, if you’re new to Thief Simulator and have next to no idea how to complete its variety of mini-games, then definitely consider spending some time working through the motions at your safe house before heading out into the night. Point is, if you can’t break into your own home, then how will you plan on breaking into a complete stranger’s?

So, what’s your take? Do you have any useful tips for Thief Simulator newcomers? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.