Roboku
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Case 46: who took the Star Sapphire?
The guard on duty at the theater admits, a little embarrassed, that he dozed off for ten minutes. When he woke up, the Star Sapphire, resting in the Private Box, was gone. He swears he doesn't snore that loudly. Help the police unmask the thief.
The board
- 1Orchestra Pit
- 2Makeup Room
- 3Restrooms
- 4Box Office
- 5Private Box
- 6Dressing Room
- 7Stage
- 8Costume Room
- 9Café
- 10Lobby
- 11Office
- 12Props Room
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Seat: anyone can be on it.
- Shelf: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Table: nothing can be on its cell.
- Screen: nothing can be on its cell.
Suspects and clues
- EEsteban
He's in the Props Room. - MMatthew
He's in row 2 and 2 columns away from the Lobby. - IIvan
He's 5 rows away from the Restrooms and 3 rows away from the Props Room. - NNadia
She's right next to the Office. - CCarla
She's in row 4. - LLucy
She's in a corner and 3 columns away from the Makeup Room. - GGrace
She's 2 rows away from the Makeup Room. - SStar Sapphire (stolen item)
It's 6 rows away from the Dressing Room.
Remember the rules: no two suspects (nor the item) ever share a row or a column, each character is in a different room, and the thief is the only one sharing a room with the stolen item. Unsure? Read how to play and the clue types.
Solution
Try it yourself first: pen and paper are enough. When you want to check, open the reasoned solution.
Show the step-by-step solution
- Esteban's clue: He's in the Props Room. 7 cells remain possible.
- Matthew's clue: He's in row 2 and 2 columns away from the Lobby. 2 cells remain possible: B2 and I2.
- Ivan's clue: He's 5 rows away from the Restrooms and 3 rows away from the Props Room. It leaves a single cell: J5.
- Nadia's clue: She's right next to the Office. 11 cells remain possible.
- Carla's clue: She's in row 4. 9 cells remain possible.
- Lucy's clue: She's in a corner and 3 columns away from the Makeup Room. It leaves a single cell: D8.
- Grace's clue: She's 2 rows away from the Makeup Room. It leaves a single cell: G6.
- The stolen item's clue: It's 6 rows away from the Dressing Room. 3 cells remain possible: A10, B11 and D11.
- Ivan can only be on J5. No one else can be in row 5 or column J, and no other character can be in the Café.
- Lucy can only be on D8. No one else can be in row 8 or column D, and no other character can be in the Box Office.
- Grace can only be on G6. No one else can be in row 6 or column G, and no other character can be in the Stage.
- Every cell still open to Esteban is in the Props Room, so no other character can be there.
- I2 has already been ruled out, so Matthew can only be on B2. No one else can be in row 2 or column B, and no other character can be in the Dressing Room.
- B11 and D11 have already been ruled out, so the Star Sapphire can only be on A10.
- Every cell still open to Carla is in row 4, so no one else can be in that row.
- The Star Sapphire can only be in the Orchestra Pit, and Nadia is the only character who can still get in there. Since the thief shares a room with the item, Nadia must be in the Orchestra Pit.
- Every other cell the clue allowed has already been ruled out, so Nadia can only be on E9. No one else can be in row 9 or column E, and no other character can be in the Orchestra Pit.
- A4, B4, C4, E4, G4, I4, J4 and K4 have already been ruled out, so Carla can only be on H4. No one else can be in row 4 or column H, and no other character can be in the Lobby.
- H1, J1, H2, I2, J2 and I4 have already been ruled out, so Esteban can only be on I3.
Conclusion: Nadia is the only person sharing the Orchestra Pit with the Star Sapphire, which is on A10. She is the thief.