Heists are the backbone of Grand Theft Auto V's story. Each one is a multi-part operation: you pick an approach, hire a crew, complete preparation missions and then pull off the job. Here is how the system works and what each heist involves.
How heists work
- Plan. At the planning board you choose between approaches, usually a loud, direct option and a quieter, smarter one.
- Hire a crew. You pick gunmen, drivers and hackers. Skilled crew members take a bigger share of the money; cheaper ones take less but are more likely to make mistakes.
- Prepare. Setup missions collect the vehicles, outfits and equipment the plan needs.
- Execute. The heist mission itself, often switching between all three protagonists.
All five story heists
| Heist | Target | Approaches |
|---|---|---|
| The Jewel Store Job | Vangelico jewellery store | Loud or Smart |
| The Merryweather Heist | A Merryweather shipment | Offshore or Freighter |
| The Paleto Score | Blaine County Savings Bank, Paleto Bay | One approach |
| The Bureau Raid | The FIB building | Fire Crew or Roof |
| The Big Score | Union Depository gold | Subtle or Obvious |
The Jewel Store Job
The first big heist brings Michael and Franklin together with Lester. The Smart approach uses knockout gas and disguises as pest control workers; the Loud approach storms the store and fights through the police response. Smart is usually the cleaner option for a first heist.
The Merryweather Heist
A job against the private military company Merryweather. The Offshore approach uses a submarine and a cargo drop at sea, while the Freighter approach boards a ship at the port. Both are memorable set pieces with very different pacing.
The Paleto Score
A bank job in the small northern town of Paleto Bay, with heavy armour and a very large police response. There is only one approach, and it is one of the most action-packed missions in the game.
The Bureau Raid
The crew must get into a government building to retrieve sensitive information. In Fire Crew, the team poses as firefighters; in Roof, they go in from above. Your choice changes the whole mission flow.
The Big Score
The final heist targets the gold reserves of the Union Depository. Subtle relies on misdirection and a quiet getaway; Obvious is a full assault using heavy vehicles. It is the biggest payout in the story and the moment the whole game builds towards.
Tips to keep more money
- Level up cheap crew early. Gunmen and drivers who survive improve for later heists.
- Pick the approach that suits you. Quieter approaches often mean fewer losses of crew members or cargo.
- Do not lose the loot. In some heists, damage or a slow escape reduces your final take.
- Invest carefully. Many players use heist money on the in-game stock market during Lester's assassination missions, which are designed to move share prices.
Choosing your crew
Each heist asks for some combination of a gunman, a driver and a hacker. A good hacker gives you more time inside a target before the alarm is fully raised, a good driver gets the getaway vehicle where it needs to be, and a good gunman holds off the police. Skilled professionals cost more, but a failed job costs more still, so it is worth paying for experience on the hardest roles.
Heists in GTA Online
GTA Online has its own, separate heists designed for groups of players, added through updates over many years. They follow a similar plan, prepare and execute structure but are played cooperatively.
Frequently asked questions
How many heists are in GTA 5 story mode?
There are five main heists, plus several heist-style missions that build up to them.
Which GTA 5 heist approach is best?
There is no single best choice. Quieter approaches are usually safer, while loud approaches offer more action.
Can I replay GTA 5 heists?
Yes, completed story missions, including heists, can be replayed from the pause menu.