You're broke in Los Santos. We've all been there. You just spent your last few thousand dollars on a chrome paint job for a car you're probably going to crash into a Pacific Bluffs palm tree in ten minutes, and now you can't even afford body armor. Sure, you could go through the slog of a contact mission or wait for a heist invite that’ll probably just fail because someone left the game, but sometimes you just need fast cash. You need a register to kick open.
Robbing stores is the bread and butter of the Los Santos underworld. It's the first thing most players do when they realize the city is their oyster—or their piggy bank.
But honestly, not all scores are equal. Some convenience stores are tucked away in alleys that make for a perfect getaway, while others are basically death traps surrounded by LSPD cruisers before you even grab the cash. If you're looking for GTA 5 stores to rob, you need a plan that goes beyond just pointing a gun at a terrified clerk.
The Reality of Low-Level Stickups
Most players think a robbery is just "walk in, aim, take money, run." It's actually a bit more nuanced if you want to maximize the take. You've got 20 convenience stores scattered across the map, from the neon-soaked streets of Downtown to the dusty, depressing corners of Grapeseed.
Each store usually nets you somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500. It doesn't sound like much when a supercar costs two million, but in the early game or when you're literally down to zero, it’s a lifesaver. Plus, there’s a trick most people miss. If you shoot the second cash register (most 24/7 or LTD Gasoline stations have two), you can double your intake. Just don't wait too long. The cops in this game have a sixth sense for petty theft.
Why Location Is Everything for GTA 5 Stores to Rob
If you’re hitting the GTA 5 stores to rob in the city center, you’re asking for a headache. The density of Los Santos means the police response time is terrifyingly fast. You step out of a store in Little Seoul and you've already got sirens wailing from three different directions.
I've always found the stores on the outskirts to be the real gold mines. Take the Limited LTD Gasoline in Grapeseed or the 24/7 in Sandy Shores. Why? Because the terrain is your best friend. In the city, you’re stuck on asphalt. In the desert, you have hills, train tracks, and massive open spaces where a dirt bike can lose a cruiser in seconds.
The Senora Freeway Ammu-Nation (the one with the range) isn't robbable in the traditional sense of a convenience store, but the 24/7 nearby is a classic target. You hit it, hop on a Freeway or a Sanchez, and disappear into the Grand Senora Desert. It’s simple. It’s clean.
The High-Risk Urban Targets
Sometimes you’re stuck in the city and you need money now. If you're going to hit the urban GTA 5 stores to rob, you have to be smart about your exits.
The 24/7 on Barbareno Road in Chumash is a personal favorite. It’s right off the Great Ocean Highway. You run in, do the deed, and instead of staying on the road, you drive straight onto the beach or under the pier. The AI police struggle with verticality and off-road transitions.
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Then there’s the LTD Gasoline on Grove Street. It’s iconic, sure, but it’s a nightmare. Not only do you have to worry about the cops, but the local gang members don't exactly take kindly to gunfire in their neighborhood. You’ll often find yourself in a three-way shootout between the LSPD, the Ballas, and yourself. It’s chaotic. It’s peak GTA. But it’s not efficient.
Breaking Down the "Double Register" Method
You’ve probably noticed that when the clerk finishes emptying the first register, they just stand there shaking. Most players take the bag and bolt.
Don't do that.
Walk over to the second register. Aim your weapon at it. Better yet, shoot the screen. The drawer will pop open, and a small stack of cash will fall out. It’s usually an extra $300 to $500. When you're hitting multiple GTA 5 stores to rob in a single run, that extra cash adds up to a free set of tires or a heavy vest.
Actually, there’s a darker efficiency to it. If you kill the clerk immediately, you can walk up to the registers and rob them yourself by pressing the interact button. It’s faster, but it automatically bumps you up to a three-star wanted level. Is the extra speed worth the helicopter? Usually not, unless you’re parked right next to a Los Santos Customs or your own garage.
The Best Vehicles for the Job
You don't want a supercar for this. They’re too low, they bottom out on curbs, and they’re magnets for police PIT maneuvers.
The Akuma or the Bati 801 are the undisputed kings of store robberies. They are fast, they weave through traffic, and you can take them up stairs or through narrow pedestrian walkways where police cars simply cannot go. If you prefer four wheels, go for something with high ground clearance like the Karin Kuruma (Armored). It’s the gold standard for a reason. You can sit in the parking lot, take fire from the responding officers, and casually drive away without a scratch.
Avoiding the Five-Star Trap
The game tracks your "robbery spree." If you hit one store, you get two stars. If you hit a second store immediately after losing the first wanted level, the cops get more aggressive. By the third or fourth store in a row, you’re looking at helicopters and undercover units spawning ahead of you.
To keep it profitable, you have to cycle your activities. Rob a store, go sell a car at Simeon’s or Los Santos Customs, then go back to the GTA 5 stores to rob. This reset allows the "heat" to die down mechanically, even if the wanted stars aren't visible.
Also, wear a mask. This isn't just for roleplay. If you wear a mask during the robbery and then remove it once you're out of the police line of sight (but still have a wanted level), you will instantly lose one star. It’s one of those tiny mechanics Rockstar added that actually works. Just pull up the interaction menu, go to style, and toggle the mask off.
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Inventory Management for Professional Thieves
Before you start your route, make sure you have a few things.
- Suppressed Weapon: Not for the robbery itself—the clerk won't care—but for taking out the tires of any police car that spawns nearby before you pull out of the lot.
- Snacks: Robbing stores usually means taking a few bullets. Buy your snacks before you rob the place, or you’ll find the "Buy" prompt replaced by a "Rob" prompt.
- Body Armor: Always.
The List of Prime Locations
If you are looking for a reliable route, start at the north end of the map and work your way down.
- Paleto Bay 24/7: Right near the highway. Easy escape into the woods.
- Mount Chiliad LTD: Great because you can just drive up the mountain. Cops are terrible at mountain climbing.
- Banham Canyon 24/7: Located on the Great Ocean Highway. Perfect for high-speed escapes.
- Mirror Park LTD: This one is tricky because of the winding roads, but it’s great for losing line-of-sight quickly.
Final Tactics for Maximum Profit
Don't forget the intimidation factor. You don't actually have to shoot near the clerk to make them go faster; shouting into your mic (if you're on console/PC with voice enabled) actually fills the intimidation bar. If you don't want to wake up your neighbors by screaming at a virtual cashier, just fire a shot into the wall behind them. Don't hit them, though. A dead clerk can't empty a register, and doing it yourself is always slower.
Once the bag is dropped, move. Don't check the map. Don't look at your phone. Get in the vehicle and head for the hills—literally.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
To make the most of your criminal career, follow this specific workflow:
- Acquire a fast motorcycle like the Pegassi Bati 801. It’s cheap and outruns almost everything in the LSPD fleet.
- Equip a mask via the Interaction Menu before entering the store.
- Park your vehicle facing the exit for a 2-second getaway.
- Hit the register, shoot the second one, and flee toward the nearest railroad tracks or tunnel.
- Remove the mask once you are "flashing" (the police don't see you) to drop your wanted level instantly.
- Rinse and repeat every 10 to 15 minutes to avoid the aggressive AI "spree" scaling.