diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 03fbbdebc3..c8cc7ba32a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1090,11 +1090,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         else
         {
             isAllowed = isAllowedToUse(ptr, item, victim);
-            if (!item.getCellRef().hasContentFile())
-            {
-                // this is a manually placed item, which means it was already stolen
-                return;
-            }
         }
 
         if (isAllowed)