GTA 6 ties its police response to witnesses, and then to what you look like. Rob Nelson of Rockstar North told Famitsu that crimes do not trigger a wanted level automatically: someone has to see them, and bystanders can call the police. From there, officers search by your clothing, appearance and vehicle, so the way you escape is as important as the way you got caught.
How a wanted level starts
A witness report starts the search. Without one, a crime does not raise a wanted level. That makes quiet approaches worth planning, such as picking a shop's back door or destroying a camera before a robbery, as the money guide describes.
Luxury cars add a second trigger. Expensive cars are likely to carry alarms and trackers, breaking a window sets the alarm off, and a tracker reports your position to police while you drive.
How police search for you
After a report, police look for a description. Nelson says they search by clothing, appearance and vehicle. Edge's demo preview adds more detail: the description is built from your appearance, clothing, weapon, whether you have a partner with you and CCTV.
That description is what you try to break:
- Change clothes. Swapping outfits at a clothing store lowers how well you match the report. Standing around in the known outfit gets you spotted.
- Take off the mask. Removing a mask has the same effect.
- Drop the weapon. A weapon in hand is part of the description.
- Split from your partner. Edge reports that separating from your partner can reduce the description.
- Ditch the car. Leaving the vehicle and leaving the heat area both help.
- Visit Pay 'n' Spray. It repairs and repaints cars, which can shake heat.
The cars and garages guide explains registration and paint, and character switching shows how to hand a getaway to the other lead.
Weapons and attention
Nelson says carrying a weapon in hand can make people walk away or react aggressively. A single long gun draws little notice, but weapons cannot be concealed in this game. Edge reports that a shotgun slung on the back gets a different reaction from one held in hand. Context matters in Edge's account: staring at a man can make him set his dog on Jason, and robbery victims can fight back. More on weapon handling is in the weapons guide.
Police tactics
Edge reports that police use road spike strips, and its demo shows officers coordinating one during a motorcycle chase. It also says you can switch control between driver and passenger during a getaway with both leads. The Launch Trailer shows police chases, according to Insider Gaming.
The Criminal Profile
Nelson describes a crime profile that rates how you play, and going overboard with violence may affect the story and the characters. There are no shop discounts for good behaviour. Edge reports the Criminal Profile runs from Professional to Irredeemable, and that non-lethal options affect it. Read the NPC memory article for how this differs from characters remembering you.
Safe zones
Areas around your hideouts are safe zones where you cannot steal cars. Some story places, such as Dre'Quan's club, are protected the same way.
What is not announced yet
Rockstar has not announced the number of wanted levels or whether you can surrender. Once the game is out, this page will add a level-by-level breakdown of how police respond and the fastest ways to clear each one.