Grand Theft Auto has always invited players to cause all kinds of chaos in its open-worlds. However, that doesn't mean the police won't try to stop them in their tracks. Almost every game has centered its premise around committing crimes and then running away from the cops for long enough to lower the game's "Wanted Level" back down to zero.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is the latest entry in the series and its world is bigger than any previous game in the franchise. As a result of this larger sandbox, there are plenty of places to hide and other ways that players can go about evading the police. While players can go on long police chases, there are also some quick solutions to getting away with the crime without doing the time.
Cheat Codes
While there are a few ways that players can try to dodge the cops, none are as quick and straight to the point as using cheat codes. Luckily, there is both a method that works universally for every edition of Grand Theft Auto 5 and a few console-specific codes that players can use as well.
First, there are codes that can be typed in that will lower a wanted level by one star. Here is a list of console codes that players can input into the game at any point while the game is open, though not when it is paused:
- PlayStation: R1, R1, CIRCLE, R2, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT
- Xbox: RB, RB, B, RT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT
Alternatively, those on PC can press the tilde (~) key to bring up the cheat menu and then type the word "LAWYERUP" in all caps to lower their wanted level by one star. Players can also pull up the cellphone on any version of the game and type in 1-999-529-93787 to activate the same cheat.
Where To Hide
If players are attempting to avoid being caught without the use of cheat codes, there are a few strategies that they can use. One of the easier options is to find a nearby railway. Most of the time, police will begin to pursue a suspect on foot if they aren't in a place that readily accepts vehicles.
The railway tunnels can allow players to stay hidden from above while also forcing the police to ditch their vehicles.
This is also true for places like the sewer system that runs beneath Los Santos, which offers a large underground area that players may remember driving through during a heist in the story mode. Most off-road areas also work pretty well when it comes to getaway locations.
An Aesthetic Change
Another strategy for lowering one's Wanted Level is to change the playable character's look. This can include ditching any headwear or sunglasses that the player may have been wearing or changing their clothes to something a bit less distinctive. A clothing change will lower a Wanted Level down by one star.
Those who don't want to change their outfits should consider changing vehicles instead, as police will likely be looking for the one that they last spotted the player driving in, or the car that they were driving while they committed the crime. Switching to a fast vehicle may be helpful as well, as players will still need to steer clear of any light cones the police are projecting.