diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 9be0326e78..b909d7df1e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1190,8 +1190,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
         if (!Misc::StringUtils::ciEqual(item.getCellRef().getRefId(), MWWorld::ContainerStore::sGoldId))
         {
-            const MWWorld::Ptr victimRef = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(ownerCellRef->getOwner(), true);
-            if (victimRef.isEmpty() || !victimRef.getClass().getCreatureStats(victimRef).isDead())
+            if (victim.isEmpty() || (victim.getClass().isActor() && !victim.getClass().getCreatureStats(victim).isDead()))
                 mStolenItems[Misc::StringUtils::lowerCase(item.getCellRef().getRefId())][owner] += count;
         }
         if (alarm)