- Probably Stolen John Smith is a recurring wanted-poster customer who visits your shop claiming mistaken identity.
- Reporting him earns a 125-credit bounty from station security.
- Refusing to report fits revolutionary/low-profile playstyles and keeps you on good terms with station residents.
- He buys food, making him a useful sale target even in "no reporting" challenge runs.
- His dialogue mirrors Odin Harlson's dilemma, creating a key early-game moral choice.
Who Is John Smith in Probably Stolen?
John Smith is one of the most memorable customers you will meet while running your shop in Probably Stolen, the dystopian cyberpunk shopkeeping simulator set on a struggling space station. He walks into your store with a nervous pitch: security has mixed up his face with a robber's on the wanted poster, and he begs you not to report him since his name is "too common."
The encounter is a classic Probably Stolen decision point. On one side sits a quick bounty payout. On the other, the game's reputation system, which tracks how security, the lower levels, and revolutionary factions perceive your shop. John Smith typically appears during the early weeks of a run, when every credit matters and one wrong reputation move can snowball.
Video Highlights:
- A full "Rock Bottom Revolutionary" run where John Smith is deliberately left unreported
- Shows how declining the 125-credit bounty fits a no-reporting challenge build
- Demonstrates John Smith as a food buyer during a water supply crisis week
- Bonus tactical glove appraisal showcase worth over 60 credits
When John Smith first appears, check your current credit total and weekly rent before deciding. If rent is nearly covered, the reputation value of sparing him usually outweighs 125 credits.
Report or Spare: Comparing the Outcomes
The John Smith encounter gives you two clear paths, and the right answer depends entirely on your build, your background, and your relationship with the station's factions.
| Choice | Immediate Reward | Reputation Impact | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report John Smith | 125 credits bounty | Security approval up, lower levels distrust | Standard profit-focused runs |
| Spare John Smith | None directly | Stays friendly with residents and revolutionaries | Low-profile / revolutionary runs |
| Sell him food | Modest profit | Neutral to positive | Any run needing cash flow |
Compare this with the other major wanted-poster encounter, Odin Harlson:
| NPC | Bounty | Extra Behavior | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odin Harlson | 300 credits | Buys contraband (guns, ammo) | Very high for contraband economies |
| John Smith | 125 credits | Buys food | Moderate, situational |
Report Him
- Fast 125 credits early on
- Boosts security standing
- Risks angering lower levels
Spare Him
- Keeps revolution favor intact
- Enables contraband networks later
- Fits "no reporting" rules
Trade With Him
- Sell food for steady profit
- No reputation cost
- Works in any build
On the Rock Bottom background, the strongest stable opening is usually reporting Odin Harlson for 300 credits on day one or two. John Smith's 125-credit bounty is a smaller version of the same temptation — skipping both is viable but demands tight scavenging and appraising to survive the first two weeks.
Step-by-Step: Handling John Smith in a No-Reporting Run
If you are running a revolutionary or low-profile build — no reporting criminals, no electricity, minimal machinery — John Smith becomes a trading opportunity rather than a bounty target.
Recognize the Encounter
John Smith introduces himself by name and mentions he has already been arrested four times this month due to the identity mix-up. This dialogue confirms it is the wanted-poster event.
Decline the Report
Choose the option to leave him alone. You forfeit the 125-credit bounty but preserve your standing with the station's lower levels and revolutionary contacts.
Check His Buying List
John Smith buys food. If you stock boxed food or rations — cheap, easy inventory — sell him a portion while keeping one box in reserve for blood-bartering customers.
Track the Reputation Payoff
Friendly lower-level relations bring variety buyers, wholesale sellers, and event benefits like household goods surpluses, which can far exceed 125 credits across a full run.
In challenge runs, sparring John Smith keeps the "friends of the people" identity intact. The revolutionary network — including Harlson's contraband channel — only stays open if security never sees you as an informant.
Challenge Run Checklist: The No-Reporting Lifestyle
The John Smith decision anchors a whole style of Probably Stolen play. Use this checklist if you want to attempt a Rock Bottom Revolutionary-style run yourself.
No-Reporting Challenge Goals:
- Choose the Rock Bottom background with the Convict (revolutionary) trait
- Skip reporting Odin Harlson despite the 300-credit bounty
- Skip reporting John Smith and sell him food instead
- Survive weeks 1-2 using scavenging and item appraising
- Retire scavenging and appraising once weekly rent is secured
- Reach 12,000 credits or maximum revolutionary reputation
| Week | Focus | Key Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Scavenge daily, appraise items, hit first rent | Wounds blocking scavenging, bad RNG starts |
| Week 2 | Buy neon signs, secure supply of sellers | Too many buyers, no sellers visiting |
| Week 3+ | Pure buy-and-sell, no scavenging or appraising | Rent creep, contraband temptations |
Test runs show that skipping appraising from day one is usually not stable — you simply do not earn money fast enough on Rock Bottom. The proven pattern is to use appraising to get off the ground, then forbid it once your wealth covers two weeks of rent.
John Smith and Station Events
John Smith's visit does not happen in a vacuum. He tends to show up alongside station news events that shape what you should stock.
| Station Event | Impact on John Smith Trade | Your Best Move |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply crisis | Food and water demand spikes | Hold food boxes, sell at peak prices |
| Security budget increase | Wanted-poster pressure rises | Stay quiet, avoid contraband exposure |
| Lower level lynching | Mob distrust of "dishonest" shopkeepers | Keep everyone-friendly reputation |
| Household goods surplus | Cheap wholesale purchases | Stock up for next week's rent |
Pair your John Smith food sales with water crisis weeks. A single food box sold during a shortage can outperform the 125-credit bounty you gave up — without touching your reputation at all.
FAQ
Q: How much money does reporting John Smith give in Probably Stolen?
Reporting John Smith awards a 125-credit bounty from station security. It is smaller than Odin Harlson's 300-credit bounty but arrives at a point in the early game where it can still cover a chunk of weekly rent.
Q: Is it better to report or spare John Smith?
It depends on your build. Profit-focused standard runs benefit from the quick 125 credits and security approval. Revolutionary, low-profile, or no-reporting challenge runs should spare him to preserve lower-level trust, then profit by selling him food instead.
Q: Does John Smith come back after you spare him?
Yes, sparing him keeps him as a friendly customer. He buys food, which makes him a recurring source of steady sales — especially valuable during water supply crises when food demand rises across the station.
Q: Can a Rock Bottom run survive without reporting anyone?
It is difficult but achievable. Successful no-reporting Rock Bottom runs rely on heavy scavenging and item appraising during the first two weeks, then transition into pure buy-and-sell operations with neon signs to attract sellers once rent is secured.