The Sims 4 has received dozens of free updates for the base game since launch, steadily granting players more fun features. In February 2025, following the Blast From the Past event - which hinted towards what was coming -, fans got a surprise update with a feature that the community had been asking for since the release of the game.
The Sims 4: 8 Best Packs For Family Living
This list will help players figure out which Sims 4 packs are best suited for family gameplay.
To celebrate The Sims series's 25th anniversary, burglars were added to The Sims 4 as part of a free base game update. This guide tells players what they need to know about the burglar NPC in The Sims 4, including when to expect it to appear in their home and how to keep it safe to prevent theft.
When Does the Burglar Appear in The Sims 4?
The burglar is an NPC that can appear in Sims' homes and steal the goods on their property. As long as players have the Burglar Visits setting enabled, there is a chance the burglar may visit. It is not possible to predict when they will appear, but it is known that it always happens at night.
If players want to increase their chances of seeing the burglar in The Sims 4, they can activate the Heist Havoc lot challenge in Build Mode. This makes it more likely for the burglar to show up and also makes the alarm system less reliable.
How to Stop the Burglar in The Sims 4
There is a lot players can do to protect their Sims from the burglar in The Sims 4:
Install a Burglar Alarm
The first step to preventing a burglar from taking a household's items is to install an alarm. To install a burglar alarm in The Sims 4, gamers must enter Build Mode, and buy the Alertz Burglar Alarm for 85 Simoleons.
This is a cheap purchase that can save players a lot of money. If a burglar alarm has been installed, it will automatically go off when an unwanted criminal enters the home. The loud noise might scare off the burglar, making them leave immediately. Additionally, Sims with the Handiness Skill can upgrade the alarm and add a shock trap as well as a feature that calls the police as soon as the alarm is activated.
Call the Police Department
When a burglar appears near the player's property, they can select them and choose the Call the Police Department option. The player's Sim will grab their phone and ask for help. This can also be done from the phone app, in the Home tab. A police officer will arrive shortly, fight the suspect and take them into custody.
If players call the Police Department and the burglar is no longer on the property, the police will consider it a prank call and the household will be fined 500 Simoleons.
Confront the Burglar
Sims can take matters into their own hands without resorting to violence by interacting with the burglar and confronting them. If successful, the burglar will turn around and leave.
Fight the Burglar
Adult Sims can fight the burglar to get them off their property. If they win, they will even be able to retrieve any items that the burglar might've stolen.
How to Enable or Disable the Burglar in The Sims 4
The burglar can be a nuance, and it is enabled in all games by default. Thankfully, gamers can change this and entirely disable the burglar feature in The Sims 4. To make it so burglars don't have a chance to spawn at all in The Sims 4, players must open the Game Options menu, select the Gameplay tab and tick off the "Allow Burglar Visits" option. This way, Sims can rest easy and sleep through the night without having to fear an unwanted visitor showing up and taking their precious goods.
The Sims 4
- Released
- September 2, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Maxis
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Cross-Platform Play
- Xbox, PlayStation, and computer versions of Sims 4 are all separate games incompatible with each other
- Cross Save
- no
- Franchise
- The Sims
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- How Long To Beat
- N/A
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 22 GB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
