I was dressed as a member of NCR, and on a larf, decided to steal a meaningless item in the barracks (a pre-war book, specifically). I was wearing NCR armor and an NCR goggle helmet.
Once I did, no one turned red, but all of a sudden, I received a message stating I was no longer dressed as a member of the NCR, and several follow-up messages about items no longer being in my inventory. Several of them seemed to be things I … um … kind of stole from the Mojave Outpost. Several, however, were not things I took from the Outpost. (Though they did correspond, sort of, to stuff I looted out of NCRCF.)
What exactly just happened? I reloaded an autosave from entering the barracks, but I'm curious as to why so much loot/gear disappeared from my inventory upon stealing a piddly little pre-war book, but without anyone turning red and trying to kill me …
Best Answer
Sometimes, if you steal something while seen, rather than trying to kill you, people will take back the stolen goods.
Along with everything else you're carrying that you've ever stolen.