Police in DDS2 operate on a heat system called "wanted level." Understanding how this system works is the difference between running a smooth operation and constantly losing product to raids. This guide covers police behavior, how wanted level works, how to avoid detection, and what to do when police are actively pursuing you.

DDS2 police behavior and anti-raid strategy diagram showing wanted level effects and mitigation

How the wanted level system works:

Your wanted level has four states, each with increasing police aggression. Based on community discussions and the Fandom wiki:

Level Name Police Behavior How to Reduce
0 None Standard patrols, no special attention No action needed
1 Person of Interest Increased patrols in your area, police notice you more 3-5 minutes of no illegal activity
2 Suspect Active search, roadblocks at zone exits 5-10 minutes, avoid all crime
3 Wanted Full pursuit with reinforcements, possible helicopter 10+ minutes, hide in safe spot

Each level escalates how aggressively police search for you and increases the probability of hideout raids. The key insight from community testing: wanted level only increases when police witness or directly detect illegal activity. Selling drugs through dealers does not increase wanted level -- only manual activities in public view do.

What triggers wanted level increases:

Activity Wanted Level Increase Notes
Selling drugs in public Low Risk increases in high-patrol zones
Assaulting NPCs in view of police Medium Direct witness triggers immediate increase
Gunfire in populated areas High Guaranteed wanted level increase
Fighting police during a raid Very High Each wave of reinforcements adds more heat
Robbing stores or homes Medium Depends on whether you are seen
Carrying large product stacks in public Low-Medium Citizens may report suspicious behavior

How to avoid detection:

The most effective prevention strategy is simple: do not commit crimes in view of police or civilians. Here are specific tactics:

  • Sell through dealers -- Passive sales through your assigned dealers do not increase wanted level. Prioritize building a distributor desk and hiring dealers.
  • Use parkour for travel -- Roof routes and alley shortcuts keep you out of police line of sight. The Fandom wiki recommends parkour for avoiding police.
  • Time your activities -- Police density varies by time of day and zone. Industrial zones have fewer patrols at night. Downtown areas are always high-risk.
  • Keep product in hideouts -- Carrying large amounts of product in public increases suspicion if you are stopped. Always move small quantities between locations.
  • Rotate selling locations -- Selling repeatedly in the same spot attracts attention. Move between client meeting points.

Practical example: Daily routine to minimize heat

Here is the schedule I follow to keep my wanted level at None:

  1. Morning -- Visit hideouts to collect product and check staff assignments. No public activity during this time.
  2. Midday -- Make deliveries using pre-planned parkour routes through low-traffic areas. Complete 3-4 deliveries then return to hideout.
  3. Afternoon -- Production activities inside hideout (safe). Restock dealers with product.
  4. Evening -- One final delivery run. Police density is lower in some zones during shift changes.
  5. Night -- Only inside hideout activities. Let any accumulated heat decay overnight.

What to do during a raid:

If a raid triggers despite your precautions, follow these steps:

Step Action Why
1 Stay calm, do not panic Panic leads to bad decisions
2 Exit through rear/window Front entrance is likely blocked
3 Use parkour to break line of sight Police lose track of you faster
4 Do not fight Fighting increases wanted level and raid duration
5 Wait for heat to decay 5-10 minutes of hiding reduces your profile
6 Return after wanted level drops Check before approaching the hideout again
Community consensus from Reddit is clear: fighting during a raid increases your wanted level and makes future raids more likely. Escape is always the better option. The police will eventually leave the hideout, and you can return once the scene is clear. Any product you lose is replaceable -- but a higher wanted level affects your entire operation across all hideouts.

Hideout-specific anti-raid measures:

Measure Effect Cost Priority
Low-visibility hideout Reduces base raid probability Location-dependant High
Guard station Adds security rating, offsets visibility ~$5,000 Medium
Reinforced doors Delays police entry during raids ~$3,000 Medium
Hidden storage Conceals some items from search ~$1,500 Low
Multiple hideouts Contains losses if one is hit Varies Critical

Related Guides:

Community Verification & Resources

Data values may shift with patches. Cross-check against community resources before building your strategy.

Steam Raid Discussion Community discussion on raid mechanics and prevention Reddit Wanted Level FAQ Community FAQ on wanted level and heat system DDS2 Fandom Wiki Tutorials on police system and hideout mechanics