The Jewel Store Job in Grand Theft Auto V is the ultimate test of precision, strategy, and adrenaline-pumping action. Whether you opt for the loud approach or the smart execution, this first heist demands quick thinking, flawless teamwork, and a steady hand as you smash glass cabinets, evade police chases, and protect your crew. Dive into this walkthrough to uncover the secrets to mastering every Gold Medal requirement and pulling off the perfect crime!
Mission 11 – Casing the Jewel Store general information
Way to unlock: You need to complete Main mission 10 (Friend Request). You can now go to the to the garment plant where Lester is staying (letter L on the world map).
Playable characters: Michael
Additional information: This mission performs the role of your preparation for the first big heist, where the target is the jewel store. Your first task will be to check out the store’s security system. It is the final part that is most important, though, because you will have to determine the plan of the heist and which people are going to take part in it.
NOTE: Towards the end of this mission, you will have to make a decision concerning how you want to play the heist out. The choice itself is going to have bearing both on the heist itself, and on the preparatory missions that precede it. I strongly recommend that you save the game before you start this mission!
Mission 11 – Casing the Jewel Store full walkthrough
The plant
Before you set out to this mission’s starting point, make sure that Michael is wearing a suit (this is requisite, e.g. if you haven’t changed since the completion of the previous mission). Fortunately, you do not need to go shopping because it is enough to return to Michael’s estate and open the wardrobe to choose one of the suits. The point that you need to get to is the garment plant in the La Mesa district that serves as Lester’s command center. Once you get here, talk to Lester to learn about the idea to rob a local jewel store – Vangelico.
Vangelico jewel store
Exit the building , get in Michael’s car (Obey Tailgater) and drive towards the jewel store located to the North-west of the plant in the Rockford Hills district. After you get into the marked area, get out of the car and walk into the alley between buildings, to the store’s entrance.
You now need to use glasses fitted with camera, to take a picture of three different elements of the store’s security system. They have been shown in the above screenshot; and they are the alarm system, the camera and the ventilation system. After you have taken the pictures, talk to the salesman and return to your car, where there is Lester waiting for you.
The next step is to take a better look on the ventilation system and to do so, you need to make it onto the rooftop. You should be able to locate here the entrance to the area where construction works are taking place (the above screenshot). Park your car, get inside and climb up the stairs.
You need to reach the opposite end of the roof
Climb up the two ladders and, after you are there, go right. Try climbing onto the portion of the roof located higher, although this will turn out to be insufficient to examine the store’s ventilation system. As a result, go towards the Northeastern part of the roof and jump over the obstacles in your way, like low walls, and climb the ladder. The point you need to get to is the vantage point marked by the game.
Turn on the camera in the glasses again. You need to target and take a picture of the ventilation system shown in the screenshot. You can now return downstairs, while keeping all precautions. Get into the car and return, with Lester, to the command center, i.e. to the garment plant.
The moment when you choose your modus operandi
The last part of the mission is planning the heist itself, and this is the most important part because you will have to make a key choice. You need to decide whether you want to go for the Loud or for the Smart variant. Each one of the variants has its own preparatory missions and they also slightly differ in terms of the course of the heist itself. The decision is yours and, both of the variants have been given a detailed description below.
In a nutshell:
- The Loud variant assumes a direct attack on the jewel store. Its execution is preceded by a preparatory mission – Carbine Rifles (stealing a heavy police vehicle).
- The Smart variant assumes using gas grenades to render the current occupants of the store unconscious. Its execution is preceded by two preparatory missions -Bugstars Equipment (stealing the pest control service van) and BZ Gas Grenades (stealing grenades).
You need to determine who is going to be the driver, the sharpshooter and the hacker
Towards the end, Lester will make you select the accomplices for the heist (not counting Franklin and Michael). In this case, you need to determine if you want to save up a bit and select rookies in each of the specialties (driver, gunman, hacker) or maybe to go with specialists who will demand a larger interest in the loot. You can easily select the weakest candidates i.e. who want the smallest share in the profit. Their participation in the heist will, in no way, compromise the mission’s success and, thanks to the fact that you select them, the protagonists will receive more cash.
Rewards and challenges in mission 11 – Casing the Jewel Store
Rewards for the completion of the mission: none
Requirements for the completion of the mission in 100%:
- Time – you need to complete this mission within 8 minutes. Do not waste too much time while climbing over rooftops.
- Picture Perfect – You need to catch of all the elements of the security system of the jewel store on one picture.
What are the key differences between the Loud and Smart versions of the Jewel Store Job
The key differences between the Loud and Smart approaches in The Jewel Store Job heist in GTA 5 are:
1. Execution Style
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Smart Approach: Franklin uses knockout gas to incapacitate everyone inside the store via the ventilation system. This ensures a quieter and more controlled robbery with no immediate resistance.
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Loud Approach: The team enters the store through the front door with guns drawn, relying on crowd control to prevent alarms from being triggered. This is a more aggressive and riskier method.
2. Level of Risk
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Smart Approach: Minimal risk since no one in the store can resist or alert authorities during the robbery.
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Loud Approach: Higher risk as alarms can be triggered, and there’s a greater chance of confrontation with civilians or security.
3. Crew Dynamics
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Both approaches allow for similar crew choices, but the Smart approach benefits more from a skilled hacker (e.g., Rickie Lukens) to maximize time inside the store. In Loud, crowd control skills might be more critical.
4. Payout Potential
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The Smart approach generally results in a higher payout because of reduced complications during the heist.
Both approaches lead to an exciting getaway sequence but differ significantly in strategy and tone.
Which approach is more profitable, Smart or Loud
The Smart approach in GTA 5’s Jewel Store Job is generally more profitable than the Loud approach. This is because the Smart method uses knockout gas to avoid complications during the heist, ensuring more time to collect jewels without interference. The controlled environment reduces risks and increases the likelihood of maximizing the payout. Conversely, the Loud approach involves crowd control and a higher chance of alarms being triggered, which can lead to less efficiency and potentially lower profits.
