Wondering why you can't steal items in Crimson Desert? When you first drop into the open world, you might be more than ready to partake in that age-old RPG pastime of stealing everything that isn't nailed down. But to your surprise, when you approach your first shiny morsel, the "Steal" option is greyed out — with no explanation given at all.
RPG players love to steal, it's in our blood. And if you want the rewards for the Hernand Castle Strongbox and the Bluemont Manor Strongboxes after you solve them, you'll actually have to steal these — so it definitely feels necessary in certain situations.
How to steal items in Crimson Desert
Long story short, you need a mask equipped to steal items in Crimson Desert. There are a few different ways you can get one:
- Buy one from the Back Alley Shop in Hernand for 10 coppers.
- Complete the Bounty quest for Jeffrey by heading to the jail in Hernand and then capturing the criminal. This appears on your map at the start of Chapter 2 in the north of Hernand city.
- Loot them randomly from bandits that you kill.
The first option is definitely the easiest since you can do this in Chapter 1 when you arrive in Hernand. As far as we can tell, masks won't drop randomly from bandits until Chapter 2, and Jeffrey's bounty isn't available until then either.
Where to find the Back Alley Shop
You can find the Back Alley Shop if you head east out of Hernand, past the big model castle on the left, then turn left down the road and follow the track to the vendor. This is also where you can sell stolen livestock.
How stealing works
After you buy a mask, you need to equip it — this is what enables your crimes. A few important things to keep in mind:
- When you steal anything, you'll need to stay hidden until a timer runs out — think of it a little like avoiding the cops in GTA.
- You'll also lose Contribution points each time you steal, so it's worth being selective about what you take.
- Some items — like the contents of the Hernand Castle Strongbox and Bluemont Manor Strongboxes — can only be obtained through stealing, making this skill genuinely necessary for full completion.
Steal sparingly, be somewhat picky with what you purloin, and keep that mask handy for when you really need it.