What Drives Heat Level Up
Your Heat Level is not a hidden number. It is a visible Wanted status that escalates based on player actions. The game uses a line-of-sight detection system -- police have to SEE you committing a crime to raise the level.
| Action | Heat Increase | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selling drugs to customers on the street | Low | Only if police witness the transaction |
| Carrying drugs/contraband in public | Low | Police spot you during patrol |
| Assaulting NPCs | Medium | Witnesses report to police |
| Car theft | Medium | Owner calls police |
| Using weapons in public | High | Immediate escalation |
| Resisting arrest | High | Automatically jumps to Wanted |
| Assaulting police officers | Maximum | Jumps to Wanted Dead or Alive |
The most common way players get heat early game is selling on the street in front of a police station or patrol route. Always check your minimap for the blue police icons before making a street sale. If you see a blue dot nearby, walk around the corner and sell there instead.
Heat Level Reference Table
| Level | Name | Police Behavior | Duration | How to Clear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Investigating | Police walk toward your last known position | 30 seconds | Move 2 blocks away or enter a building |
| 2 | Wanted | Police chase on foot, use stun guns | 60 seconds | Break line of sight, hide in bin |
| 3 | Wanted Dead or Alive | Police use pistols, set up roadblocks | 90 seconds | Hide indoors or leave the district |
| 4 | Maximum | Full lockdown, police at every intersection | 3+ minutes | Switch properties or save and reload |
How to Reduce Heat Fast
Run behind a building, fence, or into an alleyway. Police pathfinding is poor at tracking you through terrain. Once you are out of visual contact for 3-5 seconds, the Wanted timer starts ticking. Jump over low walls and fences to create distance quickly.
Garbage bins are scattered throughout the map. Walk up to one and interact to hide inside. After 30-45 seconds, the Wanted timer expires completely. Note: police can still find you if they see you enter the bin. Do not hide in the same bin twice in a row -- cops learn your hiding spots.
Consuming an Energy Drink gives a temporary speed boost. Use it when fleeing to create distance faster. Combine with line-of-sight breaks for the most reliable escape. Energy Drinks are sold at gas stations for $5 each.
Entering any owned property instantly clears all Heat Level. This is the most reliable escape method if you are close to a safe house. Keep at least one property near your primary selling district for quick escapes.
Store drugs in your property, not on your person, when not selling. Keep illegal items in alternate inventory slots so police searches find nothing. Do not sell within 3 blocks of the police station. Use dealers to sell for you instead of street dealing -- dealers do not trigger Heat.
Police Patrol Routes (Known Hotspots)
| Location | Police Activity | Risk Level | Best Avoidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street (downtown) | 2 patrol cars, 1 walking cop | High | Sell here only after dark |
| Near Ray's Realty | 1 walking cop during day | Medium | Sell on the east side of building |
| Gas station (north) | 1 patrol car passes every 2 min | Low | Safe most of the time |
| Motel area | No police patrols | Very Low | Best early-game selling zone |
| Warehouse district | 1 patrol car at night | Medium | Enter from the south entrance |
| Casino area | 1 walking cop at entrance | Medium | Use side entrance |
Police behavior changed in v0.4.5 (Anniversary Update). Cops now respond faster to street dealing and can enter some buildings during Wanted Dead or Alive. Garbage bin hiding was confirmed working as of v0.4.5 -- if a future patch breaks this, check the community resources below for updated methods.
Related Guides
For detailed escape techniques, see: How to Escape Cops: Garbage Bin Hiding.
Community Verification & Resources
Data values may shift with patches. Cross-check against community resources before building your strategy.