Catch the Robber

About the game

Catch the Robber is a free top-down stealth and chase game that runs right in your browser. You play as the town sheriff on a busy night: a gang of thieves in striped shirts and red masks keeps arriving in black getaway vans, each one heading for a different building. Some want the cash in the bank, some want the diamonds in the jewelry store, and some are happy to empty an ordinary house. Your job is to stop as many of them as you can before the gang gets rich.

What makes the game different from a simple chase is the vision cone. Every robber can see a slice of the street in front of them, drawn on the map as a yellow cone. If you walk into that cone, a question mark appears above the robber's head and their suspicion quickly grows. Once it fills up they shout, drop the plan and sprint for the nearest exit — much faster than you can run. Catch them while they are still unaware and you earn double points; get spotted and you will need a lucky shortcut to stop them.

Every level builds a brand new city layout with different shops, parks and van positions, so no two rounds play out exactly the same. As you progress, more robbers work at the same time, they walk faster, they finish their jobs sooner and they look over their shoulders more often.

How to play

1. Move with WASD or the arrow keys. On a phone or tablet, touch anywhere on the map and drag to use the virtual joystick.
2. Sneak by holding Shift (or tapping the Sneak button). You move slower, but robbers only notice you from about half the normal distance and their suspicion rises more slowly.
3. Catch a robber simply by touching them. Approaching from behind, outside their vision cone, is the safest way.
4. Watch the alarms. A pulsing red ring marks a door that is being robbed. The orange bar above the thief shows how close they are to finishing the job.
5. Block the getaway. A robber carrying a money bag is heading to one of the four vans at the edge of the map. If they reach it, you lose one life star.
6. Grab donuts. A pink donut sometimes appears on the street. Eating it gives you a five-second speed boost — perfect for chasing a runner.

Scoring

• Catch: 100 points.
• Sneak catch (the robber never saw you): +100 bonus.
• Loot recovered: +50 for a house, +75 for a shop, +125 for the jewelry store and +150 for the bank.
• Level multiplier: every level adds 10% to the points for each catch.
• Level clear bonus: 200 × level, plus 50 for each life star you still have. You also get one lost star back.

Tips and strategy

• Robbers are most vulnerable while stealing. They face the building with their back to the street, so this is the best moment for a sneak catch. Watch them, though: every second or two they turn around to check behind them.
• Buildings block vision. Use corners to your advantage. Wait just around the corner and step out when the robber has passed.
• Prioritise loot carriers. A robber who hasn't stolen anything yet costs you nothing if they flee. A robber with a money bag costs you a life.
• Frightened robbers get tired. After a burst of sprinting they slow down, so a spotted robber is not always lost — especially if you have a donut boost.
• Stay central. The middle of the map lets you reach any street quickly. Standing next to one van leaves the other three open.

Want more detail? Read our complete beginner's guide and the seven stealth tips for a higher score.

Frequently asked questions