If your Sims 4 nights have been lacking a certain criminal frisson for the last 11 years, things are about to get a whole lot more exciting. Over a decade after its release, The Sims 4 has finally added the series’ iconic burglar as part of its latest free update.
The burglar was, of course, a perpetual looming menace across the first three Sims games, threatening to slip onto your lot in the dead of night – accompanied by a dramatic sting – only to then snoop around stuffing your valuables into their sack. Assuming the police didn’t get their first.
Unfortunately for fans of late night crime and stripy knitwear, burglars didn’t make the cut when The Sims 4 launched in 2014, but over a decade of nocturnal peace is now set to be shattered as the series celebrates its 25th anniversary.
As detailed in EA’s announcement, The Sims 4’s burglar – know officially known as Robin Banks – behaves similarly to her earlier counterparts. She’ll sneak into homes in the dead of night when residents are sound asleep, stealing items before making her escape.
However, Robin can be caught redhanded if Sims managed to wake up and call the emergency services before she flees into the night. Burglar alarm is back too, guaranteeing police arrive in time to make an arrest – and providing other safeguards if Sims are handy enough to install them. An suitably euiqpped alarm can, for instance, zap a passing burglar, causing her to drop her stolen goods. Additionally, bold (and ideally gym-fit) Sims can take Robin on in a one-on-one fight.
In total, EA says it’s added 37 player-directed interactions and 50 unique reactions relating to the burglar across The Sims 4’s base game and 17 different packs. Depending what expansions you own, dogs can chase burglars out of the house, while werewolves can intimidate them into leaving. Spellcasters can deter them with magic, and Servos can zap them into place. Scientists, meanwhile, can immobilise them with a Free Ray, and vampires might use the opportunity to sneak a late night snack
If all that sounds a bit much, EA notes burglar visits will be rare by default. However, those wanting to increase the frequency of break-ins can activate the Heist Havoc Lot Challenge, causing Burglars to turn up more often and alarms to go on the blink.
The Burglar is available in The Sims 4 right now as part of its free base game update. This paves the way for The Sims 4’s upcoming Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack – letting players run everything from a pet cafe to a tattoo parlour – which launches next Thursday, 6th March.
All this comes as The Sims series celebrates its quarter-century anniversary with a range of events, including (somewhat wobbly) remasters of The Sims and The Sims 2.
