Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Puzzle 020: The Shoe Store Thief

Original diagram for Puzzle 020: The Shoe Store Thief

A customer buys $30 shoes with a fake $50 bill, so how much does the shoe clerk lose in total?

Chapter
Chapter 1
Location
Car 4 · Inspector Chelmey
Picarats
25 picarats
Type
Write Answer
Region
Same in all versions · Also called The Shoe Shop Thief in Europe
Hint 1: A gentle nudge. Tap to flip.
Hint 1

Ignore the order of events and follow the money in and out of the clerk's hands.

Tap to flip back
Hint 2: The key idea. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 2

What did the woman walk away with?

Tap to flip back
Hint 3: Almost there. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Hint 3

The trip next door gave the clerk $50 and then took $50 back. It cancels out.

Tap to flip back
Answer: See the answer. Unlocks after the previous card is flipped.
Answer

The answer is $50 (£50 in the European version).

Tap to flip back
Solution, FAQ and sources

Solution

Follow what actually left the shop for good.

1. The woman left with $30 of shoes and $20 of real change: $50. 2. The neighbour gave the clerk $50 of real money, and the clerk later paid her $50 back. Those cancel out.

The clerk's total loss is **$50**: exactly what the woman walked off with. The European version uses pounds, with the same answer, £50.

About this puzzle

A woman pays for $30 shoes with a $50 bill. The clerk changes it at the shop next door and gives her $20 change. Later the neighbour discovers the bill is a fake, and the clerk pays her back $50 of his own. The woman is long gone. How much did the shoe clerk lose?

Unofficial fan guide, not affiliated with LEVEL-5 or Nintendo. Puzzle description, hints and solution written by Hint by Hint.

Similar puzzles: Puzzle 024: A Strip of Paper, Puzzle 014: Red Caps, Puzzle 013: On Your Plate, Puzzle 027: A Dramatic Farewell

All Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box puzzles

FAQ

What is the answer to Puzzle 020, The Shoe Store Thief, in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box?

The answer is $50 (£50 in the European version).

Where do you find Puzzle 020 in Diabolical Box?

Puzzle 020 appears in Chapter 1, in the Car 4 area, when you talk to Inspector Chelmey.

How many picarats is Diabolical Box Puzzle 020 worth?

25 picarats.

What is Puzzle 020 called in Pandora's Box?

In the European version, Professor Layton and Pandora's Box, it's called The Shoe Shop Thief. The puzzle itself is the same.

Sources

Facts checked on November 14, 2026

Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by LEVEL-5 Inc. Professor Layton, The New World of Steam, and all related names, characters, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.