Probably Stolen: How to Correctly Identify Augs

Your life behind the counter in Probably Stolen is not going to be peaceful. Apart from regular thieves and criminals, you also have to watch out for Augs. They look like ordinary people, but they are actually humans under the control of a rogue AI that’s trying to take over more of the population. The Mentor tells you about this threat on Day 12, but there’s a catch. Security won’t come to your rescue if you find an Aug in your shop. You will have to figure out who’s human and who’s not, then deal with them yourself. Here’s how to identify Augs in Probably Stolen.

What are Augs in Probably Stolen?

Augs look like regular humans and pretend to be normal customers. From my experience, they always visit your store to buy materials and medical supplies. They use the materials to craft more augmentation chips and the medical supplies to implant those chips into new victims.

When the Mentor introduces you to Augs, he also gives you a shotgun to eliminate them. You can’t call Security for help because Augs have apparently hacked their communication network. So, unlike regular criminals, you’ll have to deal with them yourself. Make sure to identify and eliminate them before they leave your store.

How to Identify Augs in Probably Stolen

There are several visual clues that can help you identify Augs. First, you should look for a visible chip around their forehead or temple. Probably Stolen players should also check their pupils, as they can look different from those of regular humans. Another sign is their unusual grin, which often shows their teeth. If a customer is wearing a mask, pay close attention to their eyes and look for anything unusual.

Augs are easy to identify during the early stages of the game. In most cases, you can identify them just by looking at their faces.

Augs can also give themselves away through their body movements. Some stand unusually still, while others make jerky movements from side to side. Their clothes can also be a clue. If you have been paying attention to what regular customers wear, you might be able to spot an Aug by their outfit. For example, someone named Lower Level Repairman wearing a thief’s black outfit could be an Aug. They can use different regular customer names, such as Lower Level Repairman, Scrap Buyer, Maintenance Worker, and Pharmacist.

Lastly, you should pay attention to how they talk. Augs try to copy human behavior, but they don’t always get it right. Their dialogue can sound overly formal or unnatural compared to what you’d expect from a regular customer.

If you are still unsure after checking these clues, you can use an Aug Scanner. You can buy one from Dr. Jackson for 200 Credits. It needs an Energy Cell to work and can confirm whether the customer is an Aug or a regular human. But in most cases, I was able to identify Augs without using it. I also received a warning from Security one morning that an Aug would visit my store that day. However, I haven’t confirmed whether this happens on higher difficulties.

Be careful before eliminating a customer. Killing an innocent customer counts as manslaughter and can have legal consequences. You will also lose reputation with Security.