Stealing in Starfield requires speed, stealth, and decisiveness. Learn how to steal without getting caught, what tools you can use for higher success rates, and what happens if you do get caught in this guide.

How to Steal Without Getting Caught

Stealing Tips
Steal Items That Have the Steal Icon and Prompt Be Undetected When Stealing Items Allocate the Stealth Skill for the Stealth Meter Build Your Character for Stealth Sneak in During the Night

Steal Items That Have the Steal Icon and Prompt

Only items with the Red Steal Icon and the "Steal" prompt would count as stealing when you pick it up. Items, containers, and items within containers can have this icon.

Any items without this icon or prompt can be freely picked-up without consequence.

Red and Yellow Item Icons Explained

Be Undetected When Stealing Items

The only difference between successfuly stealing an item or not is whether or not you were spotted. Make sure any NPC does not have a clear line of sight to you before stealing an item.

How to Sneak and Avoid Detection

Allocate the Stealth Skill for the Stealth Meter

The Stealth Skill at Rank 1 will activate the Stealth Meter on your HUD. The Stealth Meter only shows when your sneaking. It will show you whether you are Detected or Hidden.

Stealth Skill Rank Up Guide

Build Your Character for Stealth

You will have an easier time not getting caught if you allocate skills that improves your stealth such as higher ranks of Stealth or Concealment.

If you're going for the sneaky thief route, you might as well allocate the Theft skill for pickpocketing, and Security for opening locks.

How to Pickpocket Successfully

Sneak in During the Night

Some NPCs in some locations sleep at night. This would give you the best chances to steal away their items while they are asleep. If it is still daytime, you can wait for night time before sneaking in.

How to Wait and Skip Time

What Happens If You Get Caught?

Reported to the Guards

If you get caught stealing an item, the NPC who saw you will likely report you to the nearest authority. The security guard will then confront you about your actions, and you have the choice to either pay the fine, attack them, or go along quietly.

If you went along quietly, it means you will face jail time, waste a few days, and lose XP. On the other hand, paying the fine lets you avoid going to jail and avoid wasting a few days of in-game time.

How to Avoid Jail

May Lead to Combat

Being caught stealing from enemies or certain NPCs is highly likely to lead to combat. If you are unprepared for a fight, forgo stealing until you are better equipped for battle.

Combat Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Likely to Affect Persuasion Meter

Stealing from NPCs and getting caught will more than likely risk your relationships and public opinion of you like Fallout. It is possible for your Persuasion meter to be negatively affected by being branded as a

How to Build Persuasion Meter

Starfield Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks