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Case 51: who took the Star Sapphire?
During last night's private gala at the theater, a guest must have gotten a little too close to the Star Sapphire, on display at the Box Office, because it was gone by morning. The guest list is short; so is the room for error. Help the police unmask the thief.
The board
- 1Rehearsal Room
- 2Props Room
- 3Café
- 4Storage Room
- 5Office
- 6Costume Room
- 7Lobby
- 8Restrooms
- 9Private Box
- 10Box Office
- 11Makeup Room
- 12Orchestra Pit
- 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
- MMatthew
He's 6 columns away from the Lobby and 8 columns away from the Orchestra Pit. - BBoris
He's 4 rows away from the Props Room and in row 7. - CChidi
He's in column D and 7 rows away from the Orchestra Pit. - JJavier
He's 3 rows away from the Private Box. - NNadia
She's 3 columns away from the Costume Room. - TTariq
He's 4 rows away from the Restrooms and 7 columns away from the Office. - YYusuf
He's in column A and 1 row away from the Props Room. - SStar Sapphire (stolen item)
It's 9 columns away from the Private Box.
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
- Matthew's clue: He's 6 columns away from the Lobby and 8 columns away from the Orchestra Pit. It leaves a single cell: L11.
- Boris's clue: He's 4 rows away from the Props Room and in row 7. It leaves a single cell: E7.
- Chidi's clue: He's in column D and 7 rows away from the Orchestra Pit. It leaves a single cell: D4.
- Javier's clue: He's 3 rows away from the Private Box. 3 cells remain possible: K2, L2 and L9.
- Nadia's clue: She's 3 columns away from the Costume Room. 2 cells remain possible: F1 and G2.
- Tariq's clue: He's 4 rows away from the Restrooms and 7 columns away from the Office. It leaves a single cell: I8.
- Yusuf's clue: He's in column A and 1 row away from the Props Room. It leaves a single cell: A6.
- The stolen item's clue: It's 9 columns away from the Private Box. 2 cells remain possible: B5 and B6.
- Matthew can only be on L11. No one else can be in row 11 or column L, and no other character can be in the Café.
- Boris can only be on E7.
- Chidi can only be on D4.
- L2 and L9 have already been ruled out, so Javier can only be on K2. No one else can be in row 2 or column K, and no other character can be in the Costume Room.
- G2 has already been ruled out, so Nadia can only be on F1.
- Tariq can only be on I8.
- Yusuf can only be on A6. No one else can be in row 6 or column A, and no other character can be in the Office.
- B6 has already been ruled out, so the Star Sapphire can only be on B5.
Conclusion: Chidi is the only person sharing the Props Room with the Star Sapphire, which is on B5. He is the thief.