Roboku
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Case 8: who took the Ruby Brooch?
At closing time at the theater, security confirmed that the Ruby Brooch was missing; it was last seen in the Orchestra Pit. The cameras show nothing out of the ordinary, which points to someone who was already inside. Help the police unmask the thief.
The board
- 1Storage Room
- 2Props Room
- 3Stage
- 4Makeup Room
- 5Lobby
- 6Orchestra Pit
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Screen: nothing can be on its cell.
Suspects and clues
- SSven
He's in column B. - ZZara
She's in row 4. - OOmar
He's not next to any wall. - GGrace
She's on the Stage. - IInes
She's 4 rows away from the Props Room. - RRuby Brooch (stolen item)
It's 3 columns away from the Props 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
- Sven's clue: He's in column B. 5 cells remain possible: B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6.
- Zara's clue: She's in row 4. 6 cells remain possible: A4, B4, C4, D4, E4 and F4.
- Omar's clue: He's not next to any wall. 3 cells remain possible: B2, B5 and E5.
- Grace's clue: She's on the Stage. 6 cells remain possible: D2, E2, F2, E3, F3 and F4.
- Ines's clue: She's 4 rows away from the Props Room. It leaves a single cell: F1.
- The stolen item's clue: It's 3 columns away from the Props Room. 4 cells remain possible: A3, A4, A5 and A6.
- Ines can only be on F1. No one else can be in row 1 or column F, and no other character can be in the Orchestra Pit.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as columns, so each column holds exactly one. Only Zara can still reach column C, so that is where she must be.
- A4, B4, D4, E4 and F4 have already been ruled out, so Zara can only be on C4. No one else can be in row 4 or column C, and no other character can be in the Lobby.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only the Ruby Brooch can still reach row 6, so that is where it must be.
- A3, A4 and A5 have already been ruled out, so the Ruby Brooch can only be on A6.
- There are as many suspects (counting the item) as rows, so each row holds exactly one. Only Omar can still reach row 5, so that is where he must be.
- B2 and B5 have already been ruled out, so Omar can only be on E5. No one else can be in row 5 or column E, and no other character can be in the Props Room.
- E2, F2, E3, F3 and F4 have already been ruled out, so Grace can only be on D2. No one else can be in row 2 or column D, and no other character can be in the Stage.
- B2, B4, B5 and B6 have already been ruled out, so Sven can only be on B3.
Conclusion: Zara is the only person sharing the Lobby with the Ruby Brooch, which is on A6. She is the thief.