How does stealing work?

[Anders]

I can't figure out how stealing works in this game. Even if i close doors and no one sees me enter, as soon as i take something thats marked as "private property" the residents come charging at me from across the building guns blazing.

Are you suppose to follow shortys advice?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFLieRl6MI

Sidenote: Does stealing have any sort of impact on your characters concience, like killing? The wiki doesn't mention stealing at all.

[Opus]

Yes, if you take something from a private property thing and the civilians there see you do it, it is stealing and they will try to kill you. If you do it and they don't see you do it, but they know you were there I think they will also try to kill you next time you go there. (At the hospital I stole some things from private property and the next day the gaurd at the front shot at me). If you can secretely steal without having anyone notice you (including you entering and trading/walking by), you will be fine and they shouldn't attack you.
Stealing does have an effect on the conscience though. If you take from the old couple, the hospital, or something like that your people will comment on it in their diary/log and mught become sad or depressed by the people they have become. On the other hand if you steal from the bad people like the Warehouse your people will be happy about it and might even become content (a step happier than normal).

Hope this helps, this is just from experience so I might be a little wrong on some things. Good Luck! :)

[Deetchy]

Just Solid Snake that ♥♥♥♥♥ and nobody will be of the wiser.

Side note: Closing doors behind you doesn't make people suspicious as open doors do, so if your in a guarded area, close those doors behind ya!

[Anders]

Alright thanks for clearing that up.

[Tallowate]

Tiny bit of extra depth that I like in the game is the fact that sometimes if you go to a location, your actions there appear to have an impact on future visits. The elderly couple's villa appears to be an example. I don't want to say more due to spoilers. :)

[Arrrtyom]

Originally posted by allenr316:

Tiny bit of extra depth that I like in the game is the fact that sometimes if you go to a location, your actions there appear to have an impact on future visits. The elderly couple's villa appears to be an example. I don't want to say more due to spoilers. :)

Oh? You've tempted me now. I've never raided their house before, sadly. Look at what you've made me do!

[Doc Johan]

If you decide to steal/kill/raid, do it with a female character (preferably Arica because she can backstab, is the best stealther, and isn't as concerned with stealing/killing). The reason to do it with a woman is because NPC's let their guard down around female characters (whether that NPC is male or female). Finding yourself in "restricted areas" with Marko (or any male character) is a death sentence, male and female NPC's will immediately aggro on him and try to kill him. With Arica, they usually give a warning or are completely nonplussed.

I have tested this out with numerous locations, including the small apartment (whether it's the family with the son or the three women), the hospital (often the male guard will not follow a female character around, and if caught stealing he won't immediately aggro on her), and even the military outpost!

[RainingMetal]

That's gotta be a myth. Anytime I went in the danger zone with a female character was no different with a male character.