How to get your stolen items back from the guards Options

[Illydoor]

This is a little hint for you guys who hate getting caught by the guards and then having all your beloved swag swiped by those pesky legionnaires.

Once you've payed the fine or done your sentence, just go back into the prison barracks or dungeon, wherever the jailor is (the stolen goods are always in an evidence chest next to him). Just ask to visit a prisoner, and then he'll grumble and walk towards the door to let you into the jails.

While he's doing that, you can just sneak behind him, pick the very easy lock while he's opening the door and get your goods back. Then you can just walk out with a smug look on your face while the jailor's still opening the door for you. Problem solved.

Of course this doesn't work when there's two jailors there.

[jack cloudy]

Well, I'm not sure about this. (I'm always too lawful or avoid getting caught in the first place)

Anyway, today I just happened to be wandering about the market district when I overheard a rumour about the Imperial Watch being corrupt. I then got a message about a new topic which was about this corruption, which suggests I've stumbled upon a quest.

Now I haven't followed up on the quest but here is a possible explanation. If the watch is corrupt as the rumour goes (and rumours are pretty much always right in games.), then the nonlocked chest might be a symptom. Imagine the following exchange.

"Stop, criminal. It's off to jail with you. "
"Is that really necessary? If you would just let me walk, I could make it worth your while. "
"Deal. Now I'm going to take you to the prison so we can get the forms filled out. All stolen items will be confiscated. Now here is what is not going to happen. You will not hear from me that we will place your items in a chest that is easy to get to. I will also refuse to tell you that this chest is the one chest that does not have a lock. Now follow me, criminal."

So yeah, maybe there is no lock on the chest because the guards are basically turning a blind eye to all the criminals who want to recover their loot.

The other possible reason I can come up with is the more likely one but rather stupid. Bethesda forgot to put a lock on it.