diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.cpp
index 085174820..d55ba13dd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "aicombataction.hpp"
 #include "aipursue.hpp"
 #include "actorutil.hpp"
+#include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
 
 namespace MWMechanics
 {
@@ -122,6 +123,20 @@ bool AiSequence::isInCombat() const
     return false;
 }
 
+bool AiSequence::isEngagedWithActor() const
+{
+    bool isFightingNpc = false;
+    for (std::list<AiPackage *>::const_iterator it = mPackages.begin(); it != mPackages.end(); ++it)
+    {
+        if ((*it)->getTypeId() == AiPackage::TypeIdCombat)
+        {
+            MWWorld::Ptr target2 = (*it)->getTarget();
+            if (!target2.isEmpty() && target2.getClass().isNpc())
+                isFightingNpc = true;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 bool AiSequence::hasPackage(int typeId) const
 {
     for (std::list<AiPackage*>::const_iterator it = mPackages.begin(); it != mPackages.end(); ++it)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.hpp
index 5c72bcc4c..4d0482a98 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aisequence.hpp
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             /// Is there any combat package?
             bool isInCombat () const;
 
+            /// Are we in combat with any other actor, who's also engaging us?
+            bool isEngagedWithActor () const;
+
             /// Does this AI sequence have the given package type?
             bool hasPackage(int typeId) const;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 7814b4a91..6ef358790 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1460,24 +1460,11 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             }
         }
 
-        // Attacking an NPC that is already in combat with any other NPC is not a crime
-        AiSequence& seq = statsTarget.getAiSequence();
-        bool isFightingNpc = false;
-        for (std::list<AiPackage*>::const_iterator it = seq.begin(); it != seq.end(); ++it)
-        {
-            if ((*it)->getTypeId() == AiPackage::TypeIdCombat)
-            {
-                MWWorld::Ptr target2 = (*it)->getTarget();
-                if (!target2.isEmpty() && target2.getClass().isNpc())
-                    isFightingNpc = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (target.getClass().isNpc() && !attacker.isEmpty() && !seq.isInCombat(attacker)
-                && !isAggressive(target, attacker) && !isFightingNpc
-                && !target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getAiSequence().hasPackage(AiPackage::TypeIdPursue))
+        if (canCommitCrimeAgainst(target, attacker))
             commitCrime(attacker, target, MWBase::MechanicsManager::OT_Assault);
 
+        AiSequence& seq = statsTarget.getAiSequence();
+
         if (!attacker.isEmpty() && (attacker.getClass().getCreatureStats(attacker).getAiSequence().isInCombat(target)
                                     || attacker == getPlayer())
                 && !seq.isInCombat(attacker))
@@ -1504,6 +1491,14 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return true;
     }
 
+    bool MechanicsManager::canCommitCrimeAgainst(const MWWorld::Ptr &target, const MWWorld::Ptr &attacker)
+    {
+        MWMechanics::AiSequence seq = target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getAiSequence();
+        return target.getClass().isNpc() && !attacker.isEmpty() && !seq.isInCombat(attacker)
+                && !isAggressive(target, attacker) && !seq.isEngagedWithActor()
+                && !target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).getAiSequence().hasPackage(AiPackage::TypeIdPursue);
+    }
+
     void MechanicsManager::actorKilled(const MWWorld::Ptr &victim, const MWWorld::Ptr &attacker)
     {
         if (attacker.isEmpty() || victim.isEmpty())
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
index 676a75caf..85d2e65cf 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             /// @note No-op for non-player attackers
             virtual void actorKilled (const MWWorld::Ptr& victim, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker);
 
+            virtual bool canCommitCrimeAgainst(const MWWorld::Ptr& victim, const MWWorld::Ptr& attacker);
+
             /// Utility to check if taking this item is illegal and calling commitCrime if so
             /// @param container The container the item is in; may be empty for an item in the world
             virtual void itemTaken (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr& item, const MWWorld::Ptr& container,