Kefir confirms that "keys to locked rooms" are part of ROB RUN's loot, alongside gear, vehicle keys and weapon mods. Beyond that, Kefir has not published how the key system works. Everything below the first section comes from players who have tested it since launch, so details may change with updates.
What kinds of keys are there?
| Key | What it does | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle key | Your own car's key, kept in the key locker at your house | Kefir |
| Room keys | Open a specific locked room in Looty Bay | Kefir, players |
| Green keys | The easier room keys | Players |
| Purple keys | Rooms that can hold big safes or vaults | Players |
| Legendary key | Opens the police station | One player |
| Master key | Needed to loot a special tier 2 safe for bases | One player |
Where do you find keys?
Creator This is Shran, who plays solo, loots cabinets inside shops because that is where he gets keys. He says that once you have one key you tend to find more, so it snowballs. Some room keys name the place they open: SwoleBenji found a purple key for a hotel in Sunny Beach, and later a key for the Reef hotel.
When you pick up a room key, its location shows on your map, according to This is Shran.
Green keys or purple keys?
This is Shran's rule for solo players: use your green keys first. Purple key rooms may have a vault behind them, and you need a drill to open it. Without a drill you can't take the biggest prize. He still calls purple keys "really good for money" once you can open them.
A Reddit player says the mini drill is for the big safes inside purple key rooms. In SwoleBenji's video a purple key room was "full of stuff", including a legendary bank money bag.
A Steam forum player who plays solo only loots safes and key rooms, takes purple items and better, and is out in about 15 seconds. Key rooms are worth more than a whole shop of small items.
What does the legendary key open?
SwoleBenji says the police station needs a legendary key, and calls it probably the most loot packed into one place in the game. He has been finding legendary keys inside purple safes, but adds that there might be other ways. Once someone opens the police station, he says it is almost never fully looted, so it can be worth checking whether the door is already open (as a civilian, not a criminal).
What is a master key?
According to SwoleBenji, a master key is a tier 2 item that opens a special safe you can put in your base. That makes it a defense upgrade: raiders need a master key to loot it. Its exact price is to be confirmed.
Lockpicks are not keys
Lockpicks are bought on the Black Market. Kefir says they open other players' vehicle trunks, including cop cars. This is Shran adds that a lockpick also opens doors quietly, without setting off the alarm that cops see.
Tips
- Loot cabinets first; they are where keys drop.
- Check your map after picking up a key to see where the room is.
- Don't open a purple key room without a drill if you want the safe.
- Carry keys carefully: if you die as a criminal in Looty Bay, you lose your bag.
Related: bank heist, how to make money.