How to pass Security inspections and hide contraband in Probably Stolen

How Smuggler Bays work after Hotfix 1.0.0.1

To keep contraband safe during a Security inspection, you must move illegal items off your display case and shelves into a Smuggler Bay or Mini Smuggler Bay before the inspector searches the shop. Hotfix 1.0.0.1 resolved a critical bug where items inside a Smuggler Bay were still confiscated during inspections if the bay was placed in the trash can, or if a Mini Smuggler Bay had been kept behind the wall poster.

Hotfix 1.0.0.1 also closed a storage exploit by preventing the large Hypertech Storage Bay from being placed inside smuggler bays. In addition, per Patch 48.3.12, deliberately displaying contraband in the display case to trigger an inspection and then hiding it in the Smuggler Bay no longer awards free Security reputation.

Investigation timing, Wild's evidence removal, and fines vs arrest

When Security opens an investigation into your shop, the officer visits on the morning immediately after the investigation completes (updated in Update 049 from waiting an extra day). Crucially, the officer's sentence—whether you receive a payable fine or an arrest—is decided at the moment the officer arrives at your counter, not when the investigation case closes.

This means if you hire Wild to remove evidence or let nightly evidence decay drop your record down into fine territory before the officer walks in the next morning, you will only face a fine instead of an arrest. Update 049 also fixed a bug where Security could arrest you over a fine you had enough credits to pay.

Reducing evidence generation from Day 1

If your business model relies on stolen goods or unlicensed firearms, take the Intimidating starting perk (2 points for a 33% reduction in evidence generation) and install a Security Alarm to prevent customer theft (its theft prevention rate floor cannot drop below 0).