The Sims 4 Burglars Free Patch: Official Blog

Sul Sul, Simmers :wave:

It’s Xènia here – Designer and longtime Simmer – to talk about why today is a big day for The Sims 4! If you’ve ever missed those suspenseful moments when your Sim’s peaceful night was interrupted by tense music and a sneaky presence, we’ve got great news: the Burglar is back! And the best part? It’s in the base game, so it’s free for everyone with today’s update.

The Burglar is an iconic Sim featured in The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3 who sneaks into houses, usually at night when Sims are asleep, to steal household items. As a longtime Sims player, I have wanted to bring the Burglar to The Sims 4. You could say I’ve been stealing moments to pitch this idea from the very start! ** Even during my job interview, I asked “What would it take to bring the Burglar back?” Now, The Sims team can proudly say the Burglar is back just in time for our 25^th Birthday, shipping alongside The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack. —and trust me, it’s worth the wait.

Everything you need to know about the Burglar

So, how does the Burglar operate in The Sims 4? Here’s what you need to know. The infamous Robin Banks (yep, that’s her name—we couldn’t resist) only strikes at night, sneaking into your Sim’s home while everyone is fast asleep (or even if they are awake!). Before you know it, she’ll be grabbing whatever’s valuable and making her escape.

How to foil that midnight mischief

The Burglar can be arrested by the police if one of your Sims calls promptly. For those who want to play it safe, the Burglar Alarm is back too! Place one in your Sim’s home for extra protection because the only way to guarantee the police get to the crime scene in time is by installing a Burglar Alarm. Handy Sims can upgrade the alarm to do all sorts of useful things: automatically call the police, reduce the chance of it breaking, or even zap the Burglar, forcing her to drop the stolen goods.

Prefer to handle the situation yourself? No problem—your Sims can take action whether it’s waking up to call the cops (who may or may not catch the thief) or getting into a one-on-one fight, your Sims have options. Pro tip: Sims who’ve been hitting the gym have a better chance of winning those fights!

Special Sims can unleash new defenses

Stopping the Burglar will feel unique depending on who’s in the household. Special Sims bring even more exciting possibilities.

• Have a dog? They’ll chase the Burglar right out.  (Requires: The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack)
• Werewolves can intimidate the Burglar into leaving. (Requires: The Sims 4 Werewolves Game Pack )
• Spellcasters? They’ve got everything from confusion spells to full-on transformations. (Requires: The Sims 4 Realm of Magic Game Pack)
• Servos can zap the Burglar into place with their defense matrix. (Requires: The Sims 4 Discover University Expansion Pack)
• Scientists can use the Freeze Ray to immobilize them. (Requires: The Sims 4 Get to Work Expansion Pack)
• Vampires, of course, might take advantage of the situation for a quick warm-blooded snack before commanding the Burglar to leave. (Requires: The Sims 4 Vampires Game Pack)

Even Sims without superpowers have fun reactions. Teenagers might stop to take a selfie with the Burglar before bolting to safety. Talk about stealing the spotlight! 

Iconic characters like Agnes Crumplebottom and Bonehilda won’t run—they’re ready to fight! In total, we’ve included over 50 unique reactions across the base game and 17 different packs, along with 37 player-directed interactions. Who knew a bit of thievery could add so much character to your game? 

Burglar visits are rare because we want those moments to stand out. But for those of you who thrive on chaos, we’ve got you covered with the new Lot Challenge, Heist Havoc. Turn this on, and not only will the Burglar visit more often, but even trusty Alarms might start acting up. You’ve been warned!

We are so thrilled to finally bring the Burglar back into The Sims universe. Sending a special shout out to our full team for making this a reality. Robin Banks isn’t just ready to rob your Sims’ houses—she’s here to steal your hearts too! What better way to celebrate The Sims 25^th Birthday than with this nostalgic yet fresh addition? We hope you’re as excited as we are to see what kind of chaos Robin Banks will bring to your households.

Dag Dag,

Xènia

Frequently Asked Questions about Sims 4 Burglars

Do I need to own Business & Hobbies to get the Burglar in-game?

No, the Burglar update will be available to all Simmers as part of today’s base game update!

Is there anything new with how the Burglar works in The Sims 4?

There are quite a few new updates with how the Burglar works in The Sims 4! First, there will be updated music accompanying the Burglar when they spawn on your lot. In addition, there is the new Heist Havoc Lot Challenge that will spawn the Burglar on your lot at a higher rate.

Similar to before, Burglar Alarms can be installed on Sims’ lots to help keep their belongings safe, but now you can upgrade the alarm to reduce the chance of it breaking, automatically call the police, or even zap the Burglar! In addition, you’ll be able to upgrade your Burglar Alarms so they break less often.

In addition, Sims can now take justice into their own hands, and special Sims can unleash their own defenses, as we’ve outlined in our dev diary!

Are any new items or functionality coming to the base game to support the Burglar? (e.g. Burglar Alarms, Smart Cameras, etc.)

Police Officers will be returning to the game to help tackle those pesky Burglars! You will also be able to install Burglar Alarms on tour Sims’ Residential or Small Business Venue (in the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack) lots to keep their belongings safe.

Is there anything that the Burglar can’t steal?

Most build objects cannot be stolen – such as outdoor plants that are planted directly in the ground, windows, lights, elevators, etc.

Can you befriend Robin Banks?

Yes, you will be able to interact with and befriend Robin Banks! You can even add Robin Banks to your household. If you do this, another Burglar will generate to take Robin’s place, or a Sim that already exists in the world with the right traits who is unplayed can fulfill the role. New burglars will spawn with the same traits but a random appearance and name.

Can Robin Banks die? If so, will she regenerate? 

Yes, Robin Banks can die, and yes, she will regenerate. Similar to Father Winter there will be a new Burglar with similar traits that will be randomly generated if this happens.