“The Sims 4 Welcomes the Timeless Burglar: A Long-Awaited Addition After 11 Years”

If your nights in The Sims 4 have been lacking a distinct criminal thrill for the past 11 years, prepare for a much more exciting experience. More than a decade after its release, The Sims 4 has finally introduced the series’ famous burglar in its latest free update.

The burglar was, of course, a constant looming threat throughout the initial three Sims titles, prepared to invade your lot under the cover of darkness – heralded by a dramatic musical cue – to swipe your treasures and escape. This scenario often relied on the police getting there before the burglar did.

Sadly for enthusiasts of late-night larceny and striped attire, burglars did not make the cut when The Sims 4 debuted in 2014. However, after more than ten years of nighttime tranquility, that peace is about to be disrupted as the franchise commemorates its 25th anniversary.

As explained in EA’s announcement, The Sims 4’s burglar – now referred to as Robin Banks – behaves similarly to her predecessors. She’ll stealthily enter homes after dark while the residents are asleep, stuffing items into her bag before making a swift exit. However, her theft can potentially be thwarted if Sims call the police before she vanishes into the night.

The purchasable burglar alarm is back too, ensuring that the police will arrive promptly to make an arrest – and offering other protective measures if Sims are clever enough to set them up. A properly equipped alarm can, for example, zap a passing burglar, causing her to drop her pilfered items. Additionally, brave (and ideally physically fit) Sims can confront Robin in a one-on-one brawl.

EA has mentioned that they have included a total of 37 player-initiated interactions and 50 unique reactions related to the burglar throughout The Sims 4’s core gameplay and 17 different packs. Depending on which expansions you choose, dogs can bark at burglars to scare them off, werewolves can intimidate them into leaving, spellcasters can thwart them with magic, and Servos can zap them into place. Additionally, scientists can paralyze them with a Freeze Ray, and vampires might even indulge in a midnight snack.

If all this feels a bit overwhelming, EA assures that burglar visits will be uncommon by default. However, those wishing to increase the frequency of break-ins can activate the Heist Havoc Lot Trait, causing burglars to appear more often and possibly disrupting alarms in the process.

The burglar is now available as part of The Sims 4’s latest free core game update. This sets the stage for its upcoming Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack – allowing players to run everything from a pet café to a tattoo parlor.