diff --git a/src/pickup.cpp b/src/pickup.cpp
index 288ea626d3f7b..37f6083cc1ea0 100644
--- a/src/pickup.cpp
+++ b/src/pickup.cpp
@@ -858,12 +858,6 @@ void Pickup::pick_up( const tripoint &p, int min, from_where get_items_from )
                         wprintw( w_pickup, " - " );
                     }
                     std::string item_name;
-                    std::string stolen;
-                    bool stealing = false;
-                    if( !this_item.is_owned_by( g->u, true ) ) {
-                        stolen = "<color_light_red>!</color>";
-                        stealing = true;
-                    }
                     if( stacked_here[true_it].front()->is_money() ) {
                         //Count charges
                         // TODO: transition to the item_location system used for the inventory
@@ -882,38 +876,25 @@ void Pickup::pick_up( const tripoint &p, int min, from_where get_items_from )
                                  it != stacked_here[true_it].end() && c > 0; ++it, --c ) {
                                 charges += ( *it )->charges;
                             }
-                            if( stealing ) {
-                                item_name = string_format( "%s %s", stolen,
-                                                           stacked_here[true_it].front()->display_money( getitem[true_it].count, charges_total, charges ) );
-                            } else {
-                                item_name = stacked_here[true_it].front()->display_money( getitem[true_it].count, charges_total,
-                                            charges );
-                            }
+                            item_name = stacked_here[true_it].front()->display_money( getitem[true_it].count, charges_total,
+                                        charges );
                         }
                     } else {
-                        if( stealing ) {
-                            item_name = string_format( "%s %s", stolen,
-                                                       this_item.display_name( stacked_here[true_it].size() ) );
-                        } else {
-                            item_name = this_item.display_name( stacked_here[true_it].size() );
-                        }
+                        item_name = this_item.display_name( stacked_here[true_it].size() );
                     }
                     if( stacked_here[true_it].size() > 1 ) {
-                        if( stealing ) {
-                            item_name = string_format( "%s %d %s", stolen, stacked_here[true_it].size(), item_name );
-                        } else {
-                            item_name = string_format( "%d %s", stacked_here[true_it].size(), item_name );
-                        }
+                        item_name = string_format( "%d %s", stacked_here[true_it].size(), item_name );
                     }
                     if( get_option<bool>( "ITEM_SYMBOLS" ) ) {
-                        if( stealing ) {
-                            item_name = string_format( "%s %s %s", stolen, this_item.symbol().c_str(),
-                                                       item_name.c_str() );
-                        } else {
-                            item_name = string_format( "%s %s", this_item.symbol().c_str(),
-                                                       item_name );
-                        }
+                        item_name = string_format( "%s %s", this_item.symbol().c_str(),
+                                                   item_name );
+                    }
+
+                    // if the item does not belong to your fraction then add the stolen symbol
+                    if( !this_item.is_owned_by( g->u, true ) ) {
+                        item_name = string_format( "<color_light_red>!</color> %s", item_name );
                     }
+
                     trim_and_print( w_pickup, point( 6, 1 + ( cur_it % maxitems ) ), pickupW - 4, icolor,
                                     item_name );
                 }