Probably Stolen crime guide: contraband, heat and hidden storage

What should you do after buying stolen goods?

Clear contraband out of the display case, then check the markings on risky stock. Contraband tier determines the penalty; stolen-item heat affects the chance of recognition. Check both.

Remove contraband from the display case to avoid arrest for displaying it.
Read each risky item’s contraband tier and heat before deciding to hold or sell it.
Leave enough hidden storage for the goods you plan to keep, and read inspection messages.
If an investigation is underway, check your evidence-handling services too. Storing the goods does not deal with an existing investigation.

For ordinary trades, start with the inspection and budgeting routine in the beginner guide.

What are the four contraband penalties?

Some goods are confiscated when found; others can close your shop permanently. Check the tier before deciding whether a discount is worth taking.

Contraband tier	Consequence when found during inspection
Low	Usually ignored unless Security is targeting you
Mid	The item is confiscated
High	The item is confiscated and you receive a fine
Critical	The shop closes permanently and you are arrested immediately

Discovery also lowers your Security reputation, which affects the severity of punishment. Use the item and base-price reference to identify stock. A cheap offer still carries the consequences of its tier.

How should you read stolen-item heat?

Higher heat makes Security more likely to recognize stolen goods during an inspection. Sellers discount items according to their heat, which slowly decreases over time. Holding that discounted stock ties up money and hidden storage.

Compare the discount with the time you expect to keep the goods. As heat falls, continue checking the contraband tier separately. A change in heat does not deal with evidence already generated by your crimes.

Which hidden storage should you buy?

Smuggler’s Bays are disguised storage designed to hide their contents from inspections. Choose one according to the room in your shop and the stock you intend to hold.

Smuggler's Bay: basic hidden storage

A small disguised storage bay. Check its free space before buying goods you need to hide, and include that space in your purchase decision.

Modified Smuggler's Bay: more storage

The modified version holds more items. If your current bay is regularly full, compare this version’s capacity and purchase cost.

Mini Smuggler's Bay: a smaller unit

A smaller disguised storage unit. If shop space is tight, inspect its inventory grid to check whether the goods you want to hide will fit.

The display case attracts buyers, while a hidden bay stores concealed goods. Check both before opening, especially after reorganizing your inventory.

What does an inspection warning tell you?

Unlock Inspection Early Warning and pay its nightly fee for notices from Wild’s Security informant. Nightly messages can say an inspection is due in two days, tomorrow or imminently. Use that notice to organize your stock.

Surprise inspections are not announced, so maintain hidden storage between warnings. Officers also search differently: some accept bribes, while others do not inspect every container.

Do you need fixers or evidence removal?

Choose according to whether Security has collected the evidence. Fixers work on evidence that has not been collected; Evidence Removal handles what Security already holds.

Service	What it handles	How it is used
Wild’s fixers	Witnesses and uncollected evidence, reducing suspected crime faster	Unlock and hire them for a nightly fee
Evidence Removal	Destroys collected evidence and interferes with ongoing investigations	A favor through Wild’s Security contacts, with a cooldown

More criminal activity speeds up an investigation. If you keep risky stock, read investigation updates as well as checking your hidden bays. After using Evidence Removal, check when it becomes available again.

For a new run, the starting-scenarios and traits guide explains Intimidating, which reduces evidence generated by crimes.

This guide uses official Mentor’s Notes, item descriptions, network upgrades and nightly messages from Demo 049-Rev5-L, Steam build 25382790. The hidden-storage images are original assets from the same build.