A Comprehensive Look at Grand Theft Auto V and Online's Most Memorable Heists

As a dedicated player who's spent countless hours in Los Santos and Blaine County, I've always been fascinated by the heists in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online. These aren't just missions; they're the beating heart of the experience, blending high-stakes action with intricate planning. Over the years, these complex capers have evolved from story mode classics to sprawling online adventures with friends. They let you choose your approach—whether you're a silent ghost or a loud, explosive force of nature. Let me take you through some of the most unforgettable jobs, from the very first one that sets the stage to the massive government-sanctioned raids.

The Prologue - North Yankton Bank Job

Talk about a job that went sideways! This is the opening act of GTA V's epic narrative, set nine years before the main story. We see Michael and Trevor in their prime, robbing a bank in North Yankton (a pretty obvious jab at North Dakota). At first, everything seems smooth—the crew is in, the money is being grabbed. But then, the classic GTA chaos erupts. The getaway driver is eliminated, their accomplice Brad meets a grim fate, and Trevor is left thinking Michael is dead too. The brutal truth? Michael cut a deal with the FIB and entered witness protection. This botched robbery isn't just a failed score; it's the foundational betrayal that fuels the entire game's drama. It's a masterclass in setting up a story with action.

The Fleeca Job

This is where every online criminal's journey begins. As the inaugural heist in GTA Online, The Fleeca Job is designed to be an introduction. The setup tasks are straightforward: case the bank and snag an armored Kuruma. The main event itself is a simple two-person operation. One player handles crowd control inside the bank while the other drills into the safety deposit boxes. After the grab, it's a mad dash to a pickup point where a Cargobob helicopter swoops in for the extraction. It's a basic tutorial, but it perfectly introduces the core online heist mechanics of roles, coordination, and the frantic escape.

The Merryweather Heist

Here's a curious one from the story mode—a technically successful theft that ends up being a total wash. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are tasked with stealing a high-tech device from the Merryweather mercenary group. The player gets to choose their approach: go in loud by blowing up a freighter or opt for a stealthier submarine snatch-and-grab. The kicker? After all that effort, their fixer, Lester, decides he doesn't want the device and tells them to return it! You don't earn a single dollar from this whole escapade. It always makes me wonder how these guys weren't thrown in maximum security for stirring up that much trouble with a private army for literally no payout.

The Jewel Store Heist

This is the job that drags Michael De Santa out of his cushy, miserable retirement. Needing quick cash to settle a debt, he decides to get the old crew back together for one more score. What I love about this mission is the meaningful choice it presents right from the start. You can plan a stealthy approach, using gas to knock out everyone in the store (minimal casualties, just some inhalation issues) and quietly clean out the displays. Or, you can choose the loud and aggressive method, busting in with guns blazing and holding everyone at gunpoint. Going loud is riskier—your crew members can actually die during the chaotic escape, which cuts directly into your final take. It's a brilliant lesson in risk versus reward.

Series A Funding

In the online world, this heist chain is given to you by none other than Trevor Philips himself. Let's just say the setup missions have a... theme. You'll be stealing drugs from a yacht, disguising yourself as garbage collectors to pinch narcotics, and ripping off biker gangs. It's a lot of narcotics-related activity! After securing all the product, you deliver a truck to the El Gordo Lighthouse for the big sale. But in true GTA fashion, the deal is a setup—the buyer is an undercover cop. A frantic scene ensues, Trevor manages to escape, and the cargo is seized. Yet, in a small mercy, you still get paid for your hard (and illegal) work.

The Blitz Play

Back in story mode, this is a classic, brute-force armored car robbery. The prep work is relatively simple: grab some disguises, find a trash truck and a tow truck, and stash a getaway vehicle. The main event is pure, unadulterated action. It involves a massive shootout with the police and using explosives to blow open the doors of a fortified Stockade vehicle to get to the cash. For movie buffs like me, it's a fantastic homage. Michael even explicitly mentions he got the idea from an old Vinewood film, directly referencing the famous street shootout in Michael Mann's Heat. It's a love letter to heist cinema.

The Humane Labs Raid

This GTA Online heist is where things get officially shady. You're working for the government, specifically Agent 14. The setups are diverse and thrilling—robbing a navy ship, stealing a chopper from Merryweather (again!), and extracting codes from an IAA agent. The actual raid, however, is where the real fun begins. It requires perfect teamwork. One squad sneaks into the underground lab on foot, while a second team provides crucial air support from an attack helicopter. The infiltration team has to grab sensitive data and make a dramatic escape through a flooded, subterranean tunnel. The finale is pure spectacle, with players blowing up their own helicopter and walking away coolly from the explosion.

The Bureau Raid

One of the final major scores in the story mode, this mission has you attacking the very heart of government power: the FIB headquarters. Notably, Trevor isn't involved because the mission comes from Steve Haines, who can't stand him. This heist offers another great strategic choice. You can plan an elaborate entry by disguising your crew as firefighters, which requires several setup missions. Or, you can choose the direct, no-prep option: rappelling down onto the roof and smashing your way in. It's a mission full of tension and high-quality loot, though interestingly, Michael doesn't take a cut of the money from this one—perhaps his conscience is finally kicking in?

The Prison Break Heist

This online classic is all about coordination. Your goal is to spring a scientist named Maxim Rashkovsky from the Bolingbroke Penitentiary. The setup missions have you stealing a plane, hijacking a prison bus, gathering intel, and taking out key targets. The finale is a multi-role masterpiece. Two players infiltrate the prison—one disguised as a guard, the other as an inmate—triggering a massive prison riot and shootout. Meanwhile, two other players handle air support and perimeter control. After a brutal fight to the airfield, everyone escapes in a plane, with the rescued scientist taking the controls so the players can parachute to freedom. It's chaotic, challenging, and incredibly satisfying to pull off.

The Paleto Score

If you ever wanted a mission that embodies the phrase "go big or go home," this is it. In the story mode, Trevor plans an audacious assault on a bank in the quiet town of Paleto Bay. The cops show up thinking it's a false alarm... until Trevor opens fire with a minigun. What follows is an all-out war. The crew, clad in heavy armor, fights their way from the bank, through a chicken processing plant, and onto the train tracks, with law enforcement response escalating every step of the way. Because the bank is so close to the Fort Zancudo military base, the army gets involved too—you'll be dodging attacks from tanks and attack helicopters before finally making a cinematic escape on a speeding train. It's an explosive, over-the-top finale for one of the game's most aggressive characters.

Looking back from 2026, these heists remain the pinnacle of what makes Grand Theft Auto so engaging. They're not just about stealing virtual money; they're about the stories they tell, the choices they offer, and the sheer, unbridled fun of pulling off the impossible job with (or sometimes against) your friends. Whether you're a silent professional or a chaotic force of nature, there's a score waiting for you in Los Santos.