Probably Stolen John Smith: Report or Keep Trading
Story spoilers: This page covers John Smith's repeat visits, arrests, and vandalism branch.
John Smith is a genuine Wanted target with a 125-credit base bounty, but he is not a one-time random criminal. Letting him go preserves a recurring food buyer; reporting him gives an immediate reward and advances a longer arrest-and-retaliation story.
Quick answer
Report John Smith if you want the bounty and Security reputation. Let him leave if a recurring food customer is more valuable to your shop. The first arrest does not end his storyline: he returns after serving time, and reporting him again can lead to the JOHN SMITH graffiti event.
How to identify John Smith
Match the customer to the current Wanted poster. John Smith's base bounty is 125 credits, so a correct Call Security action is not a wrongful report. The actual Incident Slip can show a different reward when Starting Perks modify wanted payouts.
Do not confuse his bounty with another similarly named wanted character. The verified 125 value applies to John Smith.
First visit: report or spare?
Let him leave
John Smith can return on roughly seven-day cycles as a food buyer. His budget grows with progression, making the relationship potentially worth more than a single 125-credit payment if your shop regularly stocks food.
The exact budget range is not a guaranteed fixed number, so judge the value by the transactions you actually see.
Call Security
Reporting him pays the wanted bounty and increases Security reputation under the normal wanted-customer rules. Perks such as Model Citizen or Convict can change the final payout and reputation effect.
The first arrest does not permanently remove him. Current story data records a short jail period followed by another visit.
What happens after the first arrest?
When John Smith returns, you can trade with him or report him again. A second report advances the retaliation route rather than simply repeating a one-scene random encounter.
This structure is why simple wanted lists can be misleading: they correctly identify the bounty but do not explain the repeat-customer and story value.
Why “JOHN SMITH” is painted on the shop
The graffiti is part of the branch created by repeated reporting. Treat it as a new vandalism event in the character chain. Continue through the next related visit and reporting options rather than assuming the first arrest failed.
Exact delays can vary with the event queue, so the safest troubleshooting step is to continue playing and confirm that no perk or mode has prevented Wanted customers from appearing. In particular, a perk that blocks poster criminals can stop the route before it begins.
Which choice is better?
- Choose report for immediate cash, Security reputation, and the arrest storyline.
- Choose spare/trade for a recurring buyer who can support a food-focused business.
Neither answer is universally optimal. The 125-credit bounty matters most early, while repeat demand can become more useful over a longer run.
Compare a bounty with profit rather than turnover
Letting John Smith trade can preserve recurring food demand, but a buyer's budget is not the same as your profit. You still need stock to sell and must account for what it cost. The long-term value of sparing him therefore depends on your own supply and completed trades, not a guaranteed future budget formula.
Reporting is easier to evaluate immediately because the poster gives a base bounty. Even then, inspect the actual Incident Slip when perks alter payouts. Neither the recurring-buyer route nor the report route is automatically best for every shop.
Keep the first report and graffiti event separate
The first arrest is part of a continuing story. His later appearance does not mean that the Wanted system ignored your report. At that visit you face another choice, and another report can advance the retaliation branch.
The JOHN SMITH graffiti belongs to that later sequence. Do not transfer the Butcher's cleaver or hunting instructions to John Smith simply because both characters can retaliate. Follow the options attached to this visitor and the new vandalism event.
If John Smith never visits
Review Starting Perks before assuming the character is missing from the game. Known Snitch and similar restrictions can prevent poster criminals from visiting. A route blocked at its entry condition is different from an unexplained delay after a completed arrest.
待确认 (Pending confirmation): the exact current buyer-budget range and difficulty multiplier, the precise second-report-to-vandalism trigger, and whether the final service permanently stops every possible visit. This guide does not publish a guaranteed return calendar or a final-service reward table beyond the supplied evidence.
FAQ
Is John Smith really wanted?
Yes. He is a valid Wanted target with a 125-credit base bounty.
Does John Smith return after arrest?
Yes. The first arrest does not end the chain; current story data records his return after a short jail period.
Why is the reward not exactly 125?
That is the base poster value. Starting Perks can modify the actual payout shown on the Incident Slip.
Why did John Smith stop appearing?
Check whether your Starting Perks prevent poster criminals from visiting, and allow time for the story-event queue.