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Overview
The v0.5.0 update gave Zois the option to live outside the law. Two criminal paths exist, Thieves and Scammers, each with a level-based progression tied to the Crime Skill. Committing crimes builds a Crime Score that eventually triggers arrest, jail time, and a trial. The system is still in early development and will expand in future updates.
Crime is separate from the criminal career paths (Dowon Solutions and Westside Hustler). Those are formal employment. The crime system is freeform activity that any eligible Zoi can pursue regardless of their job.
Who can commit crimes
Only Young Adult and older Zois can commit crimes. The first Crime Skill interaction (Level 0) unlocks when a Zoi meets at least one of these conditions:
Economic hardship - owns 2,000 Meow or less, or is struggling with heavy debt
Social isolation - under significant psychological stress from lack of family support or ongoing family conflict
Personality - has the Rulebreaker trait or the Malicious characteristic
Once the first crime interaction unlocks, the Zoi can start building their Crime Skill. Higher levels unlock more lucrative but riskier crimes.
The thief path
Thieves break into properties and steal physical items. Success rates depend on the Handiwork, Programming, and Fitness skills. Some properties have traps like surveillance cameras and alarms that increase the chance of getting caught.
Thief interactions by Crime Skill level
Level 0 - Stealing money from the homeless, swiping snacks, pilfering from a food stall, snatching a bag
Level 1 - Skimming coins from parking meters
Level 2 - Robbing a POS machine, snatching a safe, picking door locks, breaking down doors
Level 3 - ATM hacking
Level 4 - Cracking a safe
Level 5 - Disabling CCTV cameras
The scammer path
Scammers defraud other Zois through social manipulation. Success rates depend on the Rhetoric and Critical Thinking skills.
Scammer interactions by Crime Skill level
Level 0 - Gaming item fraud
Level 1 - Second-hand trade scams
Level 2 - Impersonating a charity employee, soliciting donations
Level 3 - Hosting bogus seminars
Level 4 - Procuring investments through false information
Level 5 - Voice phishing
NPC Zois can also scam the player's Zois. Players have encountered fake investment messages that drain their Zoi's funds and push them into debt.
The Suspicious Job Agency
The Suspicious Job Agency is where criminal Zois find work. It has a Bulletin Board where Zois can purchase crime information (intelligence on targets and opportunities) and take on shady jobs. Using the agency is the main way to find profitable criminal activity beyond petty theft or street-level scams.
Crime Score
Every criminal act increases the Zoi's Crime Score. The score tracks the cumulative severity of criminal behavior. When another Zoi witnesses a crime, they report it to the police. Responding officers may issue an immediate fine or take the Zoi into custody.
At a high enough Crime Score, the Zoi is automatically arrested regardless of whether anyone witnessed the most recent crime.
Wanted status
Thieves who escape a crime scene may be placed under a wanted notice for one day. During this period, any encounter with a police officer results in arrest. The wanted status expires after 24 hours if the Zoi avoids police contact.
Arrest and jail
When arrested, the Zoi is taken to the police station and placed in a jail cell. Their clothes change to an orange jumpsuit. The cell has a bed, sink, mirror, toilet, and a vending machine. It is small and restrictive.
Jail is a real in-game location where the player can see and control their Zoi, not a rabbit hole. Standard detention lasts until 9 AM the next day. The Zoi can leave jail early after 4 AM by clicking on them and selecting "Get out of Jail." The developers have confirmed that jail breakout is possible, though the exact method is not fully documented yet.
The trial system
When a Zoi's Crime Score reaches a high threshold, they go through a full trial instead of just a short detention. Trials take place in courtrooms, a new building type added in v0.5.0.
Before the trial
After arrest, the Zoi can either post bail (preparing at home) or stay in the detention center. They then appoint a lawyer:
Free lawyer - provides minimal assistance. The cheapest option, but significantly lower odds of a favorable outcome.
Elite lawyer - better chances of acquittal or a reduced sentence. Costs more but the investment pays off if freedom matters.
Once a lawyer is appointed, a trial preparation mission begins. This mission involves answering questions and selecting Opportunity Cards. How well the Zoi performs during preparation directly influences the cards available during the actual trial.
During the trial
The trial itself proceeds automatically. Opportunity Cards appear during the proceedings, and choosing the right answers can reduce the sentence or improve the odds of acquittal.
Outcomes
Acquittal - the Zoi walks free. Difficult to achieve and usually requires an elite lawyer combined with strong trial preparation.
Fine - the Zoi pays a monetary penalty and is released.
Custody - the Zoi serves jail time.
Guilty verdicts are the most common result. Not-guilty outcomes require both a good lawyer and successful preparation.
Crime and karma
Criminal activity lowers karma. Stealing, fighting, robbing ATMs, destroying property, and extorting others all push the Zoi's karma toward Bad or Terrible. A Zoi with consistently bad karma faces consequences at death, potentially becoming a ghost instead of passing to the afterlife.
Tips
Build Handiwork, Programming, and Fitness before pursuing the thief path. Higher skill levels mean higher success rates and less chance of getting caught.
Build Rhetoric and Critical Thinking for the scammer path.
Avoid committing crimes near police officers or in crowded areas where witnesses are likely.
Extorting a police officer results in instant arrest. Do not do this unless you want to go to jail.
If a trial is coming, invest in an elite lawyer. The free lawyer rarely gets favorable outcomes.
Attacking a police officer who is admonishing the Zoi also triggers arrest.
Development status
Crime features were added in v0.5.0 (December 2025) and are described by the developers as being in the early stages. The v0.5.4 hotfix reduced excessive arrest triggers during minor crime interactions. Future updates will expand the system with additional content.