So I had just interred Solitude and was wondering around the city. I got a mission from a argonian about a light house and that I had to turn it off. It was night so I thought to my self that I would do the mission tomorrow night. I got to the Vinking skiver where I would rest for the night. When I interred I was welcomed by Corpulus Vinivus (the owner of the vinking skiver) I asked for some food and a bed for the night. He was very nice and said he will show me the room. But... On the way to the room a beautiful bottle of healing potion stood on a shelf. I thought to my self that no one could see me so I took it without crouching. suddenly I heard some on say "hey! put that down." beside of that nothing happen and I went to bed. The next morning was a nice and good day with blue sky. I walked out of the vinking skiver right to the tower where there is a fast way out of solitude. I got to the light house and turned it off. It all went as it should. But when I was on my way home some thing dramatic happens. I saw three people on the same road as me and they was walking strait towards me. I said hallo to the first one of them and she said hallo to me. every thing was find on tell the biggest nord I have seen in a long time walked strait op to me and said "We are here to learn you a lesson" and all three jumped on me like wild dogs! It was a long and hard battle but at last all three was dead. I looked in there pockets and what not to see if they had anything useful. when I searched the big nord guy I found a letter. when I opened it, I was shocked... it was from Sorex Vinivus (the son of Corpulus Vinivus) I thought to my self what I had done to provoke him so much that he wanted me dead. Then I new it, it was that bottle of healing! now when I remember it was him that yelled "hey! put that down" I didn't thought he meant it so serious.

So watch out next time you visit the vinking skiver! Sorex Vinivus is watching your every step!

actually if you steal from any NPC and they catch you this can happen

Indeed.

Good story though.

Yeah, this is Radiant AI, if you steal from any NPC this can happen. Unfortunately it does not always work as it should as dead NPCs often send thugs after you.

Apparently, Hagravens can do this too, which is frightening news.

If you think that is frightening, you haven't gotten one from a Briarheart that died before he could see you

Yes, it is always fun pickpocketing a Briarheart's heart only for him to send thugs after you.

This happens, but its shallower than it appears. Now i've killed the only merchant in winterhold, trying to get revenge.

That is why there needs to be a dialogue option after they send thugs after you.

I reverse pickpocket the note onto the person who sent them after me. That'll teach them, and keep them up at night

oddly enough, in all my playthroughs, I only found thugs hired by... Markath guards. I thought it had to do with the 'Forsworn conspiracy' quest but in the note found on the thug's dead bodies, they mention that I stole something.

Haha, strange. Maybe you pickpocketed a Markarth guard or something?

It happens when you kill someones relative too.I accidently killed the Whiteruns stablmasters son and I was being chased by thugs the next day.

He always kind of annoyed me, so I ran my daedric wakizashi across his throat the first chance I got. But then Minette Vinius sent thugs after me....needless to say, Corpulus is a bit lonely these days.

A little girl paid thugs to go and kill you?She must get a lot of pocket money.

Yeah, even kids will send thugs after you, I'm kinda surprised it hasn't happened to you yet haha.

That orc at the college in Winterhold sent a goon squad after me cause I took a library book :0

I actually had a npc take back the stole item, they said hey put that down then walked over to me and took it back from my inventory...i laughed and let them have it

I've gotta start robbing more. This sounds like fun.

It's not like he doesn't warn you. At least it wasn't hungry atronachs.

I need to steal more stuff, I never get attacked.

A matter if fact,I'm married to Sorex on my new character,she's now my sister in law.Although I think the little girl in riverwood will be sending thugs after me,I sorta killed her parents.

Does this only happen once per play through? Mjoll sent thugs after me once, but no matter how much I steal i can't get the event to happen again.

No, I've had it happen multiple times.

I am, indeed, extremely terrified. Absurdly so.