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Crime Skill
April 25, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Initial version
The Crime Skill is one of the personality skills introduced in the December 23, 2025 v0.5.0 update. Unlike most skills in inZOI, which cap at level 10, the Crime Skill currently caps at level 5. KRAFTON has flagged it as being in early stages of development, with the cap planned to rise in future updates as additional crime content is added.
The skill governs how effectively a Zoi can perform criminal actions through the v0.5.0 crime system. Higher Crime Skill unlocks more lucrative and higher-risk criminal activities, ranging from petty theft up to bank vault heists. Skill level interacts with several other skills, including Rhetoric, Handiwork, Programming, Critical Thinking, and Fitness.
The first crime interaction unlocks for any Zoi who meets at least one of these conditions:
Has 2,000 Meow or less, or is in significant debt
Is under significant psychological stress from family issues
Has the Rulebreaker trait or the Malicious characteristic
Once a Zoi qualifies and performs their first crime, they begin earning Crime Skill experience. The skill can only be raised by performing crimes; there is no book or alternative training method.
Each level unlocks new criminal interactions. The progression is steep: each level multiplies the available payout but also escalates the risk of arrest.
Level | Unlocks |
|---|---|
Level 0 | Scam in-game items (Rhetoric); extort other Zois for around 3,000 Meow; borrow money; snack theft from grocery shelves. |
Level 1 | Secondhand fraud (Rhetoric); steal coins from meters and snack machines (Handiwork); steal bags (Handiwork). |
Level 2 | Impersonate charity workers (Rhetoric); break-in actions including steal from safes, rob POS, lockpick, and break door; access Dark Mew to buy lockpicks at 100 Meow each. |
Level 3 | Hold fake seminars (Rhetoric); hack ATMs (Programming, with an 8-hour cooldown per ATM); register fake low-tier information; buy low-tier break-in info from the Suspicious Job Agency for 500 Meow. |
Level 4 | Scam investors with false information (Rhetoric, ~4 minutes per attempt); crack and open safes (Handiwork); buy intermediate-tier break-in info for 2,000 Meow. |
Level 5 | Voice phishing (Rhetoric, ~30 minutes, with a 6-hour cooldown); sabotage surveillance cameras (requires Handiwork and Programming both at level 5); buy high-tier break-in info for 5,000 Meow; register fake high-tier info (requires Critical Thinking 5). |
Reaching level 5 from level 0 takes approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes of in-game time spent actively committing crimes. Per-level estimates from community testing:
Level Transition | Approximate Time |
|---|---|
Level 0 to 1 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Level 1 to 2 | 5 hours 30 minutes |
Level 2 to 3 | 2 hours 5 minutes |
Level 3 to 4 | 3 hours 2 minutes |
Level 4 to 5 | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Single-action payouts vary significantly by Crime Skill level and which secondary skill is supporting the action. The figures below are typical ranges for a Crime Skill 0 Zoi performing each unlocked action.
Activity | Duration | Cooldown | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
Steal coins from meters | 2 to 4 minutes | Several hours | 206 to 411 Meow |
Steal bag | Around 3 minutes | None | 341 to 361 Meow |
Hack ATM | Around 3 minutes | 8 hours | 531 to 1,456 Meow |
Secondhand fraud | Around 30 minutes | None | 1,071 to 1,936 Meow |
Fake seminars | Around 30 minutes | None | Around 1,962 Meow |
Charity impersonation | Around 6 minutes | None | 1,508 to 2,712 Meow |
Scam investors | Around 4 minutes | None | 4,281 to 5,331 Meow |
Voice phishing | Around 30 minutes | 6 hours | 5,020 to 7,789 Meow |
Bank heist (high-tier break-in) | Varies | None | Around 52,373 Meow |
Crimes can be witnessed by NPC Zois in close proximity. Witnesses report the crime, contributing to the Zoi's Crime Score. Distant Zois (across the street, far from the action) typically do not witness or report. Each crime adds to the Crime Score; crossing the arrest threshold triggers a Wanted Notice for one in-game day, during which any encounter with police results in immediate arrest.
After arrest, Zois can go through the Trial and Justice System with multiple lawyer tiers and ability cards that influence the verdict. See the Prison and Jail article for current incarceration mechanics and the Prison System article for the planned July 2026 expansion.
Rulebreaker trait or Malicious characteristic unlock crime interactions for any Zoi without the financial gating.
Suspicious Job Agency sells break-in information at three tiers (500, 2,000, and 5,000 Meow) that scale with Crime Skill.
Crime Score tracks the total criminal record and determines arrest probability.
Karma decreases as crimes accumulate. Low Karma triggers different NPC reactions and unlocks darker interaction options.
Gangster Career and the Street Soldier career (in Criminal Careers) complement Crime Skill for a fully criminal lifestyle.
Crime Skill levels feel slow at the start. The Level 1 to 2 transition is the longest single jump (5+ hours). Plan accordingly.
Pair Crime Skill with Rhetoric (for scams), Handiwork (for theft and lockpicks), or Programming (for ATM hacks and surveillance) to maximize payouts.
The 8-hour ATM cooldown applies per machine. With multiple ATMs across the cities, a Crime Skill 3+ Zoi can rotate targets for steady income.
Voice phishing at Level 5 has the best risk-to-reward ratio for non-heist crimes: 30 minutes of work for 5,000 to 7,800 Meow.
High-tier break-in info from the Suspicious Job Agency unlocks bank heists with payouts above 50,000 Meow per job.
Witnesses are local. Crimes performed in remote alleys or away from foot traffic carry much less arrest risk than crimes committed in plain sight.
Crime covers the broader crime system. Crime Score tracks the arrest threshold. Suspicious Job Agency provides crime jobs and information purchase. Karma tracks the moral consequences. Trial and Justice System covers the courtroom flow after arrest. Skills lists every adult skill.
