I started Crime Simulator in debt with nothing but a crowbar and a hideout. Took me a few restarts to figure out the flow. Here is what I wish I knew from the start.
The tutorial teaches the basic loop: find a house, break in, steal stuff, sell it, repeat. It is short but do not skip the lockpicking practice -- I spent my first few real runs fumbling with it and getting caught because I rushed past that part.
Your First Job
Pull up the job board at your hideout. Start with the lowest-risk target -- a small suburban house with minimal security. Before you leave:
- Take the crowbar (your only tool initially)
- Check the time of day (night gives better cover, I get caught less at night)
- Note the house layout from the job description
Approach from the rear or sides. Windows and back doors are quieter than the front. Once inside:
- Crouch near windows so you do not get spotted from outside
- Head toward electronics, cash, jewelry first
- Watch for NPCs inside the building -- they patrol on set routes
- Exit before the police arrive
Police Alert System
The police system triggers based on noise and visibility. A broken window or a silhouette against a window increases your heat. I learned this the hard way when I smashed a front window in broad daylight and was running before I had even grabbed anything.
What triggers police:
- Breaking windows without silencing them (glass knife helps)
- Using the crowbar on doors (loud tool use)
- Being spotted by NPCs (residents call police)
- Triggering alarms (security systems in higher-tier houses)
- Sprinting in the open where neighbors can see you
What is safe:
- Lockpicking (silent)
- Using a glass knife on windows (silent)
- Crouching while moving (reduced visibility)
- Moving at night (darker = harder to spot)
Selling Your First Haul
Every map has a fence marked with a dollar icon. Drag items from inventory to the sell window. Electronics and jewelry sell for significantly more than household junk -- I grab those first and leave kitchen appliances behind.
A few players on Reddit and Steam suggest keeping one of each common item type early on for item requests. I ignored this advice at first and regretted it when requests popped up for items I had just sold.
Tool Priority After the First Run
With your first payout (around $500-$1,000 based on what I and other players have seen), buy in this order:
- Basic lockpick set (~$350) -- unlocks locked doors without the crowbar noise
- Flashlight (~$125) -- I missed loot in dark corners my first few runs
- Sleeping gas (~$225) -- neutralizes a single NPC without alerting others
| Item | Cost | Why Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Lockpick Set | ~$350 | Silent door opening, core tool |
| Flashlight | ~$125 | Find hidden loot in dark rooms |
| Sleeping Gas | ~$225 | Emergency NPC neutralization |
| Total | ~$700 | Enough for first 2-3 heists |
Skip cosmetic items and hideout furniture early. I bought a poster for my wall my first run and could not afford a lockpick upgrade. Every dollar goes into tools that enable better heists. Decorate your hideout after you have a $5,000 cash buffer and full tool set.
First Five Heists Plan
| Heist | Goal | Expected Earnings | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Complete tutorial, grab crowbar | ~$100 | $100 |
| 2 | First small house, window entry | ~$150 | $250 |
| 3 | Second small house, grab electronics | ~$200 | $450 |
| 4 | Third small house with requests | ~$300 | $750 |
| 5 | Buy lockpick set + flashlight | -- | $300-$400 remaining |
Avoiding the Police
Getting caught means a chase. The Steam guides and Reddit discussions agree on this: break line of sight, hide in a closet or bathroom, stay still until the search timer expires. Do not sprint while hiding -- NPCs can hear footsteps.
Police evasion step-by-step:
- Stop moving as soon as you hear the police siren
- Find a hiding spot (closet, bathroom, under bed, dumpster)
- Stay still and wait for the search indicator to deplete
- Wait an extra 10 seconds after the indicator is gone
- Crouch-walk to the nearest exit
- Do not sprint outside -- walk calmly away from the area
Emergency Save Trick
If you are about to get caught and have not been to the hideout since the start of the run, quit to menu. The game saves at the hideout only. You will respawn with your loot intact. I have used this more times than I want to admit.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Selling gold bars (they fund basement upgrades, worth 5x more as upgrades)
- Buying hideout decorations before tools (poster vs lockpick -- always the lockpick)
- Ignoring the item request board (50-100% profit premium)
- Using the crowbar on every door (loud and gets you caught)
- Trying to loot every room (greed = arrest)
- Not checking house intel on the job board (know what you are walking into)
Related Guides
- Game Modes and Quota -- mode comparison for new players
- Fast Money Guide -- early-game cash methods
- Loot Locations and Values -- what to grab and what to skip
Community Verification & Resources
Data values may shift with patches. Cross-check against community resources before building your strategy.