We’ve all been there. You’re minding your own business in a chaotic Los Santos lobby when some Level 400 sweat on an Oppressor Mk II decides your existence is a personal insult. Or maybe your best friend just won a massive bounty and is gloating about it in party chat. You want revenge, but you don't want to get your hands dirty. You want something funnier. You want to see a random NPC in a track suit sprint out of an alleyway and tackle them into the pavement. That’s exactly why knowing GTA V how to call a mugger is a fundamental skill for any career criminal in GTA Online.
It’s one of those classic features that has been in the game since the PlayStation 3 days, yet a lot of newer players totally forget it exists. It’s cheap. It’s effective. Honestly, it’s one of the most satisfying things you can do for $1,000.
Getting Started with Lamar Davis
You can’t just hire a hitman out of the Yellow Pages. In the world of Grand Theft Auto V, everything goes through your contacts. To pull this off, you need to have a working relationship with Lamar Davis. You remember Lamar—Franklin’s ride-or-die who is constantly getting into trouble and roasting people's haircuts.
To unlock the ability to call a mugger, you have to hit Rank 50. If you’re a fresh spawn at Rank 10, you’re out of luck for now. Spend some time grinding out Contact Missions or double-cash adversary modes until you hit that magic fifty. Once you do, Lamar will give you a ring, basically letting you know that he’s got "people" who can take care of things for you.
The Actual Process
Open your phone. Scroll to Lamar. It's that simple. When you call him, a menu pops up on the top left of your screen. You’ll see a few options, but the one you’re looking for is "Send Mugger."
It costs a flat fee of $1,000. That money is gone the moment you hit the button. After you select the option, a list of players currently in your session will appear. Pick your victim.
Now, the waiting game begins.
What Actually Happens When the Mugger Arrives?
This isn't an instant teleportation kill. GTA Online spawns an NPC nearby the target. This NPC usually looks like a typical Los Santos lowlife—hoodie, maybe some baggy jeans—and they will start making a beeline toward your target.
If your target is standing still or shopping at Binco, they are sitting ducks. The mugger will run up, knock them to the ground with a knife, and steal whatever cash they have on their person.
Pro tip: The mugger only takes cash. If your target has $10 million but it’s all tucked away in their Maze Bank account, the mugger is only going to walk away with a couple hundred bucks from their wallet. But if they just finished a mission and haven't visited an ATM? You might actually make a profit.
The mugger doesn't just steal money, though. They steal dignity. Watching a high-level player get floored by a random NPC while they’re trying to type in chat is peak comedy. If the target is in a vehicle, the mugger will actually yank them out of the car and drive off with it. I’ve seen muggers steal Tanks. I've seen them drive off in multi-million dollar supercars while the owner stands there confused.
Limits and Nuances
You can't just spam this. There’s a cooldown. Once you’ve sent a mugger, you have to wait a few minutes before Lamar will take another contract from you. Also, if the mugger gets killed before they reach the target, the mission fails. You don't get your $1,000 back. That’s just the cost of doing business in Los Santos.
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Another thing: the mugger can be spotted. If your target is paying attention to their mini-map, they might see a red dot approaching them aggressively. A quick shotgun blast to the NPC’s face ends the threat instantly. This is why the best time to figure out GTA V how to call a mugger is when your friend is distracted—maybe they're looking at the map, checking their own phone, or engaged in a sniper duel with someone else.
Why You Should Actually Care About This Feature
Most people focus on the big guns. The Orbital Cannon is for when you want to spend $750,000 to delete someone from the map. Merryweather Mercenaries are for when you want a prolonged gunfight. But the mugger? The mugger is psychological warfare.
There is a specific triumph in seeing the notification: "A mugger has stolen $1,200 from [Player Name]."
It tells the other person that you’re watching. It tells them you’re willing to spend money just to be an inconvenience. It’s the ultimate "troll" move because it’s so low-stakes yet so annoying.
The Reward for the Hunter
If the mugger successfully robs the player and starts running away, you can actually go kill the mugger yourself. If you do, you can pick up the cash they stole. If your target was carrying a lot of "green" cash, you can actually walk away with up to $10,000. It’s not a viable way to get rich, obviously, but it’s a fun little gameplay loop.
Interestingly, there is an award associated with this. If you’re a completionist looking to fill out your Social Club awards, you’ll need to utilize Lamar’s services quite a bit.
Misconceptions and Troubleshooting
I’ve heard people complain that Lamar isn't answering or the option is greyed out. Usually, this happens for one of three reasons:
- You’re in an interior. You can’t call for a mugger if you’re inside your apartment or an office. You need to be out on the street.
- The target is "busy." If the player is in the middle of a specific scripted event or inside their own property, the mugger can’t get to them.
- Passive Mode. If someone is in Passive Mode, they are protected from muggers. It sucks, I know. But the game won't let you grief people who have opted out of the chaos.
Also, don't expect the mugger to be a ninja. They are just an NPC. They can get stuck behind fences. They can get run over by AI traffic. It’s a gamble. But for $1,000, it's a gamble worth taking every single time.
Strategy: When to Use the Mugger
Don't just throw it out randomly. Wait for the moment.
Watch the kill feed. If you see someone is on a massive kill streak and they finally stop to take a breather, that’s your window. Or, better yet, wait until they are at the clothes store. There is nothing more hilarious than someone trying on a new jacket only to be booted out of the menu because a mugger just stabbed them in the kidneys.
If you’re feeling particularly toxic, call the mugger right after you’ve gone off the radar using Lester’s ability. They won't see you coming, and they won't expect the sudden NPC intervention either.
Defensive Play
On the flip side, how do you stop this? Simple. Keep your money in the bank. Use your phone to access the Maze Bank website and deposit your cash frequently. If you have $0 in your pocket, the mugger gets nothing, and you just get a funny animation of being tackled. Also, stay in a vehicle. While a mugger can pull you out, it gives you much more time to react and drive away or shoot them.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
Ready to try it? Here is your checklist for the next time you log into GTA Online:
- Check your Rank: Ensure you are at least Rank 50. If not, start hitting those 2x RP events.
- Bank your Cash: Don't be a victim yourself. Open the phone, go to Money and Services, and hit the Maze Bank deposit button.
- Identify a Target: Look for someone standing still on the map or someone who is currently "winning" a fight too hard.
- Call Lamar: Select "Send Mugger," pick your victim, and then grab a pair of binoculars or use the TV in your apartment to spectate the player. Watching it happen live is half the fun.
The mugger is a relic of a simpler time in GTA Online, but it remains one of the most entertaining tools in your arsenal. It doesn't require a jet. It doesn't require a bunker. It just requires $1,000 and a bit of a mean streak. Use it wisely, or don't. Los Santos isn't exactly known for its ethics anyway.