case #5: the record
ROB RUN Notoriety, arrests and jail
Short answer: the mask makes you a criminal. Surrendering to a cop costs only your bag; dying to another criminal can cost everything you carry. Notoriety climbs with every crime in one trip and raises loot and payouts. Prison time is not just a punishment: the in-game line is that "the longer your sentence, the higher your authority".
What do you lose in ROB RUN when you die or get arrested?
| What happens | What you lose | How sure |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested or surrender to a cop | Only what is in your bag. Weapons, armour and quick slots stay. The car's trunk can be seized too. | Kefir (FAQ and gameplay post); trunk from one playtest video |
| Killed by a criminal while masked | Everything on you can be looted. | Kefir's description plus several players |
| Killed while unmasked (civilian) | Two players say you keep your gear. | Player reports |
| Killed at your base | Raiders can take your loot and cash; laundered money in the bank stays. | Kefir (FAQ), players |
| Server wipe | Land, base, weapons and cash. | Servers and wipes |
That is why the common advice is to surrender to cops and avoid fights with other criminals unless you are sure.
How does the mask work?
You become a criminal only when you put on a mask. Before that you can explore Looty Bay, check a target and plan routes. Some actions, like selling to a fence, need the mask on. Leaving the city and coming back puts you back in civilian clothes, which players use to reach sell points safely.
What is Notoriety?
Kefir: "The longer your crime spree goes on in Looty Bay, the higher your Notoriety level rises." Higher Notoriety means better loot and higher payout rates, and the risk rises with it. Players see it as a level on the HUD (one launch-week guide shows level four) and note it builds within one trip, so leaving the session to bank your loot also gives up the bonus.
How do you know when you are wanted?
Kefir has not documented a wanted meter. One playtest player describes it this way: kill civilians or police and your icon turns red; every cop knows you are in the area, but not exactly where. Tripping an alarm brings the police to that building. If you cut the alarm and sell without incident, players report the police usually do not come at all. We will replace this with the official rule when there is one.
How do jail and sentences work?
Crimes add charges. A playtest player reports that the whole server is warned when the feds are coming; you can leave, or stay and be sent to prison with a sentence. An official store screenshot shows the prison yard with a "Jail time 41 years" banner. An in-game line spells out the twist: "The more they take, the more time you do. And around here, the longer your sentence, the higher your authority." Kefir's FAQ adds that the more wealth you hold when the wipe hits, the longer your prison sentence.
Prison tattoos tie into this: the same player says they add reputation and better loot chances. Treat that as unconfirmed until Kefir explains it.
Watch it in game
- ROB RUN: Tips and tricks! How to progress and earn money faster Espanola7 · early access build jump to 05:02, 07:46
- What you need to know about ROB RUN Callmetrouble87 · playtest build jump to 07:16, 07:58
- ROB RUN 1st heist tips & tricks Christian Wise · early access build jump to 02:53, 25:02
- Use the loop holes in ROB RUN Callmetrouble87 · playtest build jump to 12:02
Checked 2026-11-06 against the Early Access build (launched 4 November 2026). How this wiki checks facts.