Grand Theft Auto 5: The Jewel Store Heist – The Smart Approach

When it comes to heist missions in Grand Theft Auto 5, you have two options: the smart approach, and the loud approach. For this walkthrough, we teach you how to master the Jewel Store heist with the smart approach, complete with an in-depth video. See? Not everything you do in GTA 5 ends in extreme bloodshed.

Now check out the loud approach.

For more, read Prima’s free GTA 5 guide.

Crew: Eddie Toh (Driver), Gustavo Mota (Gunman), Paige Harris (Hacker)

Pre-Requisite Missions: Casing the Jewel Store, Bugstars Equipment, BZ Gas Grenades

100 percent Completion Requirements (Gold)

-Steal the jewelry within 00:50

-Protect Franklin during the LS River chase

-Steal the jewelry from all 20 glass cabinets

By completing this heist you will earn the Diamond Hard trophy/achievement.

After traveling to Lester’s location (indicated by the H on your map) watch the cut scene. When you regain control of your character, you’re playing as Michael. Enjoy a nice, leisurely drive to the heist by following the GPS to the green marker.

Once you arrive, you will take control of Franklin. Head inside and take a slight right to the staircase. Head up to the second floor and then head to your right and out the door. Climb two sets of ladders until you get to the roof. Once you’re on the roof, head to the green blip on your radar. Michael will warn Franklin to make sure he’s using the BZ gas and not grenades. You have five BZ gas grenades, and if you are unable to get one into the air vent you fail. Aim just above the lip of the vent and gently throw the grenade. If you throw it too hard it will sail over. Once the BZ gas is in the vent a quick cut scene will play and you will again take control of Michael.

Pay close attention to the dots on your mini map. Each one represents jewels you can steal. If you chose Paige as your hacker, she lets you know you have 90 seconds before the alarm resets itself. Gathering all jewels within 50 seconds is one of the requirements to 100 percent completion of this heist. Smash the glass cases by pressing circle for the PS3 or B for the Xbox 360. Collecting the jewelry from all 20 cabinets is another requirement for 100 percent heist completion. Once you gather all the jewels, head out of the jewelry store for another brief cut scene before switching back to Franklin.

The getaway is easily the most difficult part of this heist but is still very manageable. Drive quickly, of course, but put the priority on not crashing and following the correct route. Follow the two bikes ahead of you. This will be the remaining two crew members you hired. If you hired Eddie Toh and Gustavo Mota everything should go off without a hitch. If you hired a cheaper driver then the quality of bikes you use is reduced. After you drop off the bridge and onto the freeway, don’t be afraid to slow down to make the tunnel entrance. If you went with the cheaper gunman here, he’ll crash, dropping a portion of the score. Once you’re in the tunnel, try to keep up with the other two crew members, but again, slow down a bit if you are having trouble making the turns. As you near the exit of the tunnel Paige will notify you that the plan hasn’t worked and the cops are waiting for you at the LS River.

Once you exit the tunnel, you immediately switch back to Michael, who is driving a large Pop’s Pills truck. Follow the bikes and ram any cop cars that approach. Do it quickly in order to protect Franklin and complete the third requirement to getting 100 percent heist completion. Once you disable the last cop car a quick cut scene will show the three bikes (or two, depending on the crew you hired) loading into the truck. Drive back to the lockup to meet up with Lester and complete the mission.

By following our instructions, Michael should receive in excess of $750,000 while Franklin should receive just shy of $300,000.

Notice in our run through that we only managed the silver completion at 84 percent. Can you do better?