GTA: San Andreas - Burglary

In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, you're going to need to keep close tabs on your wallet. There's a lot to spend money on, and to get where CJ wants to go, you'll need to have plenty of cash coming in. Like in previous Grand Theft Autos, you will sometimes earn money by successfully completing missions, but not always. Not all missions are the kind of things that you get paid money for, CJ isn't a hired thug and his motivations and rewards are often more complex (involving personal interest, respect, loyalty to family and set) than just cash. So, for that extra bit of green to make ends meet, side missions have taken on a new level of importance. One of the new ways you can get hold of it is by fencing other people's stuff!

Robbery might be a crime, but you need to know how to do it right. If you don't do it well, you're going to get caught, one way or another. Get away with it, and you'll come off with a pile of cash. For your larcenous habit, there are dozens of places in San Andreas to rob. For example, in Los Santos there are a number of residential houses that can be broken into, most contain a variety of goods that you can make off with and hock to build up your wealth.

So, before you start, you need to plan ahead a little and find yourself a getaway van. Jack a moving truck and hit R3 and you're good to go!

Dress the part: A number of clothing stores sell ski masks, which help to conceal your appearance. Once you have a ski mask, or balaclava, CJ enters a full-time sneak mode. Very handy when trying to keep from making any noise.

Bring the right tools for the job - a lot of people in San Andreas are trusting small-town folk and they often leave their doors unlocked, but if you stumble upon a house with people inside, you could need a bat, a shotgun, or a knife since this is the quietest weapon, to silence them before they alert the police. You'll need to wait until nighttime before making your move - people will be sleeping, and you will have an easier time slipping in undetected and making off with the stereo or VCR. You can't rob a house during the day - people are too likely to be home (unemployment seems to be a real problem in San Andreas)!

Creep through the house. If you make a lot of noise the inhabitants, if any, will be alerted to your presence. Make sure to check out every room in the house - grabbing the 13 inch kitchen TV might seem like a smart move, but you might be passing up some real finds. Look for valuable items that are easy to carry; TVs, stereos, and VCRs.

Go room to room, and if anyone is home, well, that's what you brought the bat for. The people you run into might do any number of things, cower in fear, attack you (some citizens in San Andreas roll strapped!), scream for the police or even call the police - so its important to take care of them as soon as you are spotted. It's hard to get rid of stuff when the police are onto you!

With the homeowners out of the way, you can take your time and unload everything of value in the house.

Once you've gotten your haul secured in your van, a trip to your fence is definitely in order. Make sure you get a fair price for your efforts. Robbery is a growth industry - the money you make can be used to purchase any number of items from clothes and food to guns and properties - even businesses.

The smart thief is the one that travels. Don't just hit up the houses close to home, the ritzier neighborhoods tend to have a wider selection of luxury items, and the mark up is always great, particularly at the price you're paying - no price at all.