GTA 5 The Bureau Raid: Covert vs Roof Entry, Best Crew, and Gold Medal Guide
A complete Bureau Raid guide: why the Roof Entry pays more with zero crew casualties, the cheapest crew that still nets the most, the Fire Crew setup, and all six Gold Medal objectives.
The Bureau Raid is GTA 5's stealth-or-spectacle heist, a job to destroy evidence held inside the heavily guarded FIB building in downtown Los Santos. It gives you two completely different ways in, and the choice genuinely matters for both your wallet and your crew's survival. This guide breaks down Covert vs Roof Entry, the crew that maximizes Franklin's cut, the Fire Crew setup, and all six Gold Medal objectives on the recommended route.
The two approaches
After the setup mission Architect's Plans, you choose between:
- The Covert (Fire Crew) approach. The crew disguises themselves as firefighters and enters after Michael, posing as a janitor, plants firebombs in two rooms to trigger an evacuation. It is the more elaborate route and requires two prep missions: stealing a fire truck and parking a getaway vehicle near the building.
- The Roof Entry approach. The crew rappels in from a helicopter onto the roof, hacks the system, grabs the evidence, and parachutes out. It is the more direct, action-forward route.
Which approach pays more?
For money, Roof Entry wins, and it is not just about the raw take. The Roof Entry approach puts more money in Franklin's pocket and, crucially, results in no crew casualties, so you avoid the casualty-expense deductions that eat into other jobs. More profit, cleaner outcome.
The Covert route is a great set-piece and slightly more forgiving to play, but it costs you the two extra prep missions and does not pay as well. If your priority is maximum cash and a clean run, take Roof Entry.
The best crew for maximum profit
Because Roof Entry produces no casualties, you can go cheap across the board without losing anyone. The optimal, lowest-cut crew that still succeeds:
- Hacker: Rickie Lukens (4%). The cheapest hacker in the game. His weak skill is not a problem here.
- Driver: Taliana Martinez (5%). Reliable and inexpensive, the same value pick that shines in later heists.
- Gunman: Daryl Johns (6%). Cheap, and with no casualties to worry about, his low skill does not cost you.
With that crew, nobody dies, there are no casualty costs, and Franklin keeps the largest possible share. It is one of the most efficient crew setups in the game.
The Fire Crew setup, if you go Covert
If you prefer the Covert approach for the story or the challenge, plan for the extra prep. You will need to steal a fire truck in one mission and, in another, park a getaway car near the FIB building so you have a ride once you ditch the fire truck after the escape. Michael handles the firebombs as the janitor while the disguised crew moves in behind the evacuation. It is more theatrical, just less lucrative.
All six Gold Medal objectives (Roof Entry)
The Roof Entry Gold Medal is demanding but fair:
- No Innocents: do not kill any innocent civilians.
- Headshots: kill 20 enemies with headshots. Take your time with aimed shots during the interior fight.
- Accuracy: finish with at least 70% shooting accuracy.
- Perfect Drop: land cleanly on the main section of the roof during the rappel entry.
- Hacker: hack the system within 45 seconds.
- Time: complete the mission in under 19:00.
The two that catch people out are Perfect Drop, which requires nailing the initial descent, and the 45-second hack, so know the mini-game before you commit to a Gold run.
A note on crew experience
The Bureau Raid is also where crew members can gain experience that pays off later. A gunman who survives and levels up here, like Norm Richards or Hugh Welsh, becomes a better value pick in The Big Score finale. Since Roof Entry produces no casualties, it is a safe place to build that experience.
The bottom line
For The Bureau Raid, take the Roof Entry approach: it pays more, keeps Franklin's cut high, and produces no crew casualties, which lets you run the cheapest crew in the game, Rickie Lukens, Taliana Martinez, and Daryl Johns, without losing anyone. Save the Fire Crew route for a story replay. For the Gold Medal, watch the Perfect Drop and the 45-second hack, and land 20 headshots at 70% accuracy under 19 minutes. See our full GTA 5 heists crew guide for how it all connects.
