[Fix] Schedule I Employees Stealing Items Issue

Dealing with employee theft in Schedule I can frustrate even the most strategic drug empire builders. Your carefully constructed business operation might be hemorrhaging inventory without you even noticing at first. When staff members begin pilfering items from racks—whether it’s weed, seeds, or other valuable merchandise—it undermines your bottom line and expansion plans. You’re not alone in this predicament; countless players have encountered similar issues while trying to build their empires.

Let’s be honest. Nothing derails your Schedule I empire-building faster than untrustworthy employees with sticky fingers.

But here’s the real question many players are asking: Is this employee theft actually a deliberate game mechanic designed to simulate real-world business challenges, or is it merely a frustrating bug that developers haven’t addressed? The community remains divided on this issue.

Is Employee Theft a Feature or a Bug?

Many veteran players have reluctantly accepted employee theft as an intentional feature. After all, real-world businesses constantly deal with inventory shrinkage due to employee theft—perhaps this is simply Schedule I’s attempt at brutal realism. The game certainly doesn’t shy away from authentic business challenges.

Others, however, remain convinced this is actually an inventory-related glitch. These players have noticed patterns suggesting the theft occurs primarily when employee inventories reach certain thresholds or under specific conditions, pointing to a technical issue rather than designed gameplay.

Whether intentional feature or annoying bug, what matters most is finding effective solutions. I’ve compiled several community-tested fixes that have helped numerous players regain control of their inventories and stop the bleeding. Let’s dive into these practical workarounds.

Proven Solutions to Stop Employee Theft in Schedule I

1. The Quick Reset: Reload Your Last Save

When you first notice your inventory mysteriously disappearing into employee pockets, try this straightforward approach:

1. Identify which items have gone missing
2. Immediately reload your most recent save file
3. Completely exit the game application
4. Restart Schedule I fresh
5. Check if employee behavior has changed

This method works surprisingly often, as it essentially resets employee behavior patterns. Many players report this simple fix can interrupt whatever loop or trigger causes employees to begin stealing. The key is acting quickly once you notice the problem—waiting too long means more losses before you reload.

Sometimes the issue persists even after reloading. Wait—don’t get discouraged! This just means we need a more direct approach.

2. The Management Solution: Strategic Firing

When digital theft becomes rampant in your Schedule I empire, sometimes you need to make tough personnel decisions. Here’s a systematic approach:

• Carefully monitor which employees seem to be accumulating your inventory
• Document what items disappear and when
• Immediately terminate employees showing suspicious behavior
• Hire replacements and observe their behavior closely
• Repeat until you assemble an honest staff

While this approach feels like playing whack-a-mole with your human resources, it’s often the most straightforward fix. Just like a real business might need to cycle through employees to find trustworthy staff, Schedule I sometimes requires the same painful process.

Some players report that certain employee types or those hired from specific in-game locations seem more prone to theft. Experiment with different hiring sources if you notice patterns.

3. The Technical Intervention: Edit Game Files

For those comfortable with a more technical approach, directly modifying save files can stop theft immediately. This solution works by emptying employee inventories where your stolen goods accumulate:

1. Locate your game’s save file directory
2. Open your most recent save file
3. Navigate to the Properties folder
4. Find <Property Name>/Employees/<EmployeeName>/Inventory.json
5. Either:
   • Remove all item names listed within the Items parameter, or
   • Delete the entire Inventory.json file (don’t worry—this won’t break your game)
6. Save your changes
7. Launch Schedule I and observe

This fix addresses the theory that employee theft occurs when their inventory systems malfunction or reach capacity. By manually emptying their inventories, you’re essentially performing emergency surgery on your save file.

One player described this process as “digital pocket-checking” your virtual employees—making sure they’re not walking out with your valuable products hidden in their code.

4. Environmental Restructuring: Move Your Merchandise

Sometimes the simplest solutions prove most effective. If you notice theft occurring primarily around specific locations or fixtures in your Schedule I business:

• Identify which shelves, racks, or storage areas seem to trigger theft
• Completely reorganize these areas or move them to different locations
• Change employee patrol routes or work assignments
• Monitor if theft patterns change after restructuring

This environmental approach works particularly well when theft seems location-specific rather than employee-specific. Several players have reported that certain store layouts seem to trigger inventory issues, while rearranging eliminates the problem entirely.

Think of it as removing the temptation or fixing a glitchy interaction zone. As one player noted: “I moved my premium seed rack away from the back office and suddenly my inventory stopped disappearing. Coincidence? I think not.”

Understanding the Root Causes

While applying these fixes, it helps to understand potential triggers for employee theft in Schedule I:

Inventory Capacity Issues: When employee inventories become full or reach certain thresholds, items may begin disappearing from your main inventory.

Proximity Triggers: Employees standing near certain high-value items for extended periods might occasionally trigger unintended inventory transfers.

Assignment Glitches: Employees with conflicting work assignments sometimes collect items they shouldn’t, particularly when task priorities change.

Save Game Corruption: In rare cases, minor save file corruption can cause employee behavior to change, including unauthorized inventory collection.

Prevention Strategies

Once you’ve fixed your immediate theft issue, implement these preventative measures:

1. Regular Inventory Audits: Check your stock levels frequently to catch issues early
2. Employee Rotation: Change staff assignments regularly to disrupt potential theft patterns
3. Strategic Item Placement: Keep high-value merchandise in locations with less employee traffic
4. Frequent Manual Saves: Create multiple save files to fall back on if problems emerge

When All Else Fails

If you’ve tried everything and employees continue stealing your hard-earned Schedule I inventory, consider these last-resort options:

• Verify Game Version: Ensure you’re running the latest update, as developers may have patched the issue
• Community Mods: Check if any community-created modifications address employee theft
• Report the Bug: Submit detailed information to the developers if you believe this is indeed a technical issue

The Business Philosophy Angle: April 11, 2025

Some Schedule I veterans have embraced employee theft as part of the game’s economic challenge. They factor expected losses into their business model and focus on growing profits despite shrinkage—just like real-world business owners must do.

As one player philosophically noted: “Maybe the real Schedule I experience is learning that building an empire means accepting some losses along the way. Not everyone on your team will be loyal, but you adapt and overcome.”

Whether bug or feature, employee theft in Schedule I represents just one of many challenges you’ll face while building your empire. With the right approach and these tested solutions, you can minimize losses and keep your business growing.