Wanted Level in GTA IV Era

A Wanted Level is a measure of the how much the player is wanted by law enforcement. As the player's wanted level increases, more powerful forms of law enforcement pursue the player. In GTA IV, wanted level is measured on a six-star scale. Committing several minor crimes in quick succession - such as beating people up, destroying cars, etc - will earn the player one star. Continuing to commit crimes or resisting arrest will often lead to a second star. Committing serious crimes (for example, throwing a grenade into a large crowd of bystanders) often earns the player multiple wanted stars outright.

If the player has one or more wanted stars, nearby Police will give chase and attempt to arrest the player. An arrest is executed by either coming into close proximity with the player forcing them to put their hands up, or by opening the player's car door and holding him at gunpoint. In the latter case, the player has no choice but to be arrested. In the former case, it is possible to resist arrest. However, this will raise the player's wanted level. If arrested, the player is transported to the nearest police station and is released some time later minus a variable amount of money and all weapons.

A player's wanted level can be decreased in various ways. The most straight-forward way is to escape the search radius and remain out of sight for several seconds. Unlike GTA III-era games, wanted levels cannot be lost by picking up Police Bribes as these no longer exist. However, GTA IV still features Pay 'n' Sprays which can only be entered only when out of sight of police. These will lower and/or remove wanted levels.

Police in GTA IV are better equipped and will respond even to crimes not directly witnessed by them, as civilians will call on their cell phones to report crimes, usually resulting in a one-star wanted level. Also, police will commandeer civilian vehicles if their vehicles are destroyed.

One Star

At a one star wanted level, any police patrols that spot you will give chase and attempt to arrest you. Officers will only shoot if they feel threatened and will most commonly attempt to arrest the player. Police cars will follow you at lower speeds than at higher wanted levels. The wanted radius is approximately 2 blocks large.

A one-star wanted level is attained by committing the following crimes:

• attacking and/or killing bystanders
• damaging or destroying a vehicle
• attacking a police vehicle
• crashing into a police vehicle
• firing a weapon in public
• pointing a weapon at a police officer
• carjacking and stealing parked cars
• breaking through a tollbooth without paying
• driving while intoxicated
• pushing a police officer repeatedly
• spraying cops or pedestrians with a water cannon when driving a Fire Truck
• climbing on top of a police car

Two Stars

Officers will now shoot to kill more often. Officers in cars now chase you rather than simply follow behind and will often try to overtake you or spin you out.

Two wanted stars are attained by:

• returning fire on a police officer
• destroying many cars at once
• killing many people in a short space of time
• crashing into a petrol pump
• faking arrest
• refusing to pull over

Three Stars

At a three-star wanted level, pursuing police vehicles become more aggressive and the police also begin to set up roadblocks on main roads. A police helicopter is also called in to assist and it's crew will follow you, put a spotlight on you (at night), and shoot at you if they get a clear shot. Noose patrol cars will join chase and create roadblocks on bridges. All police vehicles pursue at maximum speed. Police boats are dispatched if the player enters water.

Three wanted stars are attained by:

• killing a police officer
• killing many bystanders
• causing excessive property damage very quickly, such as blowing up several cars at once

Four Stars

At four stars the player will either be confronted by the FIB or Noose. It has been speculated, but not confirmed, that FIB is dispatched when the vehicle is in a small, quick car as FIB possesses the speedy Buffalo. The Noose Enforcer is dispatched when the player is in a larger vehicle and is physically manhandling the police. Others speculate that there is a 50/50 chance of being confronted by either service. Regardless, once on service is in play the other will not show up until the wanted level is removed and then reacquired.

Four wanted stars are attained by:

• continuing to retaliate against law enforcement
• continuing to kill civilians
• causing extreme property damage, such as blowing up many cars
• entering the runway at Francis International Airport
• entering the grounds of the Civilization Committee in Algonquin

Five Stars

The police maverick is replaced with the annihilator. All law enforcement maintain open fire, even in pursuit. Five stars are attained if you:

• continue to retaliate
• take down a few more police helicopters
• continue to cause extreme property damage, such as blowing up more than a dozen cars
• going on the site 'Littlelacysurprisepageant.com' at the Tw@ internet cafe

Six Stars

At six stars, the Army (NOOSE in GTA IV) will take take over from the FBI and will give chase in Barracks OL trucks and Rhino tanks, making travel in ordinary vehicles extremely hazardous. Civilians have almost completely disappeared from the streets at this point, and the soldiers drive with total disregard for anything but ramming you into oblivion. At six stars, police helicopters rule the skies, the sea is thick with police boats and in addition to the army, police officers are everywhere - appearing from all directions in large numbers. If you can't get to a Pay 'n' Spray with a suitable vehicle, stealing a tank or taking to the skies in a helicopter and trying to pick up police bribes around the city are often the only practical options for reducing a six-star wanted level.

In Grand Theft Auto IV, the One Man Army achievement is unlocked when the player stays alive for at least five minutes with a six-star wanted level.

Six stars are attained if you:

• continue to retaliate
• take down several police choppers and kill scores of law enforcement officers
• cross police barricades before you're supposed to (GTA IV)