I didn't see a search option here; sorry if this is a FAQ.

I've read the wiki, but I'm still not clear on what constitutes a crime. It doesn't appear to be as simple as you get a red text whenever you're about to choose a "crime," like in Fallout 3.

Here are some specific examples, with my belief or question about their status. TIA for checking and correcting me.

1) Any action with red text = crime.

2) Taking an object from any surface, unlocked container, or body, with no red text, is always OK.

3) "Harvesting," with no red text, even from an enclosed garden or inside a house, is always OK...?

4) Lockpicking any container in a house = crime?

5) Lockpicking any container in a more public building = crime?

6) Lockpicking any door in a settlement = crime?

7) Accessing a previously illegally picked door/container is essentially a separate crime - i.e., if you're seen doing that, you're also reported.

8) Killing someone who would have attacked you is still murder...? E.g., you sneak up on the bandit camp and take out a guard...?

9) Related to #4, after retrieving the Golden Claw for the Riverwood traders, I proceeded to take everything in their house and shop, when there wasn't red text. When I got to the locked containers, Mr. trader was watching me, but I continued b/c there was no red text. I thought I may have heard a complaint, but I wasn't sure. Afterwards, they still talked to me like I was a saint. Was it OK for me to do that pick, or did their gratitude just overcome any complaint they may have had? Were there likely any consequences at all (e.g., worse prices)?

10) I was attacked by a random "thief" away from witnesses and killed him. I noticed a horse nearby. Assuming it was his, therefore my spoils of victory, I took a ride. (No red text.) Then I read about horse stealing and ditched the horse. I now believe that I did "steal" the horse, by definition b/c I didn't buy it, and that this only would have been a problem for me if I had dismounted and then remounted in front of a witness - correct?

Thanks again for any help.

If it's red it's a crime

Killing civilians ,unless they attack you first is a crime.

If there was no red,then you didn't steal the horse

* * *

When you do a quest for someone you become friends and they allow you to take certain stuff from them.

If you are not sure about anything, press F5 and do the deed.If you get a bounty on your head, then press F9.Quick and painless.

So you get immediately notice of the bounty? That makes it much easier.

There is a sub menu in the game that lists "crimes" and according to that, picking any locked chest is a crime. I've had very upstanding characters who only picked locked chests in dungeons (no red tags) and they were listed under crime. Assaults are also counted against you, too even if they are bandits that would kill you but you hit them first?
I would be interested to know more about some of these crimes, too.

I'd like to note that animals are witnesses to a crime, if you want to clear your bounty by clearing the area then don't forget to kill those chickens before they go clucking to guards

and this is not a joke.

I remember the first time I figured this out was with the traveling nobles and their horse...I killed him and his guards yet the bounty didn't go away so I thought "WTF there's nobody around except for this damn horse". I killed the horse out of frustration and laughed when the last witness was killed popped up.

But the prisons are so beautiful Harry! I implore you to get caught once in a while. It's fun breaking out.

In all my time playing I have yet to allow myself to be imprisoned...I'm tempted to be sent to the Chill someday.

Well I got caught once and I spent the night in jail. I thought I could practice lockpicking on a locked house, and I was caught by the guard in Whiterun. I would rather spend the night in jail than pay the exorbitant penalty. I have a few bounty notes in my inventory, I didn't even know what I did... I stay away from all crimes (in red) though it became very tempting to steal a horse one time.

You suffer from restartitus, just make a tavern brawler and check out the prisons.

Ha no restarting, I either pay my way, declare i'm thane or kill everyone