Grand Theft Auto VI separates the police pursuit from what officers know about you. Wanted stars show the pursuit state; Heat indicators record identifying details such as your clothes, appearance, weapon and vehicle. 1
The details below come from TGG's Rockstar North preview. Our car theft and wanted-system report explains how these systems fit together.
What police can identify
Heat indicators track CCTV footage, travelling as a couple, outfits, appearance, weapons and vehicles. Addressing one clue does not necessarily address the others: changing clothes and dealing with a recognised vehicle are different actions. 1
You can destroy footage, change outfits at a vehicle, stash a recognised weapon and separate Jason and Lucia. Wearing a mask before a crime can also conceal identifying information. Splitting the pair up can remove a wanted star. 1
Police can be alerted by witnesses, robbery alarms or a stolen car's tracker. A tracker can report the theft even when nobody saw you take the car. 1
How to read the wanted stars
Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
Solid white stars | Police have direct line of sight. |
Flashing white stars | Line of sight is broken and you are losing the pursuit. |
Hollow stars | An alarm has been raised without a description of the suspect. |
Red stars | You have lost direct pursuit but remain inside the search zone. |
Colours and shapes indicate the pursuit state; the number of stars is a separate measure.
The minimap shows a red search area with a larger, lighter red ring around it. Leave both areas for the cleanest escape. At the highest wanted level, police search across the map rather than within a local radius. 1
Finding police and planning an escape
Focus reveals police through walls; police icons no longer appear on the minimap. You therefore need to locate officers with Focus rather than following their vision cones around the radar. 1
The GTA 6 minimap reference covers navigation and HUD behaviour. Exact Heat decay times and a complete account of every wanted level have not been detailed.
How many wanted stars are there?
The preview describes six wanted stars, returning to the series' earlier maximum after GTA V used five. One star is designed to be relatively easy to escape; the highest level is the large-scale pursuit. The star count measures escalation, while the colours and outlines in the table above describe what is happening during the search. 2
A crime scene can stay hot after you leave it. Officers can keep searching the reported area while it cools down, so leaving the shop is not the same as removing the search around it. 2
Why a disguise may only solve part of the problem
Your appearance and outfit are separate clues. Changing your hair can address the appearance clue without changing what police know about your clothes. A different hat or glasses are not enough to replace a recognised outfit; the preview calls for a full change of clothing. 2
The same applies to the getaway car. If officers know which vehicle you are driving, changing clothes while staying in that car leaves another identifying clue in play. Abandoning it for a different vehicle can reduce that part of the police attention. 2
Masks work best before identification: wearing one during a crime, then removing it during the escape, can stop a face description reaching police even when CCTV recorded the incident. That is different from changing your appearance after officers already know it. 2
Splitting up and getting arrested
When a report identifies a couple, Jason and Lucia can separate during the escape. You can send your partner away while drawing the attention yourself; a later text can tell you when they are clear. 2
If either protagonist is arrested, the game shows the traditional Busted screen and returns you to the world, even if the other character was still escaping. The preview does not provide a full list of penalties for that outcome. 2
The vehicle theft and security reference explains trackers and recognised vehicles. The Criminal Profile reference covers longer-term behaviour rather than the immediate pursuit.