The wanted level is the core pressure system in RUNAWAYS, the Roblox crime-escape game where you rob your way from Kansas to the Mexican border. Five stars sit at the top of your screen, and every crime you commit fills them up. More stars means faster police reinforcements and tougher enforcers hunting you down.
Quick answer: You cannot lower your wanted level in RUNAWAYS. Stars only go up and never fall on their own, so the only way to survive high heat is to stop committing crimes and physically escape the police by breaking line of sight and driving to Mexico.
How the wanted level works in RUNAWAYS
Your wanted level is shown as up to five stars. It climbs based on both the number and the severity of the crimes you commit. Level 5 is the maximum. The more stars you hold, the shorter the timer before reinforcements arrive, and the stronger the enemies that come for you.
Each wanted tier sends a different type of enforcement after you. The chase begins with basic patrol officers and escalates all the way to the military at five stars.
| Wanted level | Enforcement |
|---|---|
| ★ | Patrol Officers |
| ★★ | Deputies |
| ★★★ | FBI |
| ★★★★ | SWAT |
| ★★★★★ | Military |
Enforcements arrive when the backup timer expires, and they can also be dispatched at random after a crime. Minor offenses are less likely to trigger an immediate response, while serious crimes are far more likely to send police straight to your location.
Can you lower your stars? No
There is currently no mechanic that reduces your wanted level. Once a star fills, it stays filled for the rest of that run. There is also no cooldown, hideout, or bribe that clears heat. Because stars never drop, the entire game plays out as damage control rather than reset.
That means the goal is not to “clear” your stars but to reach the border before your heat gets high enough to overwhelm you. Every decision about which houses to hit and when to move should be made with the understanding that the pressure only builds.
Which actions raise your wanted level
Different crimes carry different weight. Some are minor and unlikely to draw an immediate response, while others put police on you right away. Understanding what counts as a crime helps you avoid filling stars faster than you need to.
| Crime | What triggers it |
|---|---|
| Vandalism | Breaking a window or any glass object, including doors |
| Trespassing | Entering a residential building or approaching a restricted-area boundary |
| Unlawful Shooting | Firing a weapon, or an Automatic Turret opening fire on an NPC |
| Murder | Killing an NPC |
| Shoplifting | Taking store goods without paying |
| Theft, Burglary, Grand Theft | Stealing loot and vehicles |
| Hit and Run | Striking people with your car and fleeing |
Note: both vandalism and trespassing immediately alert people inside or near a building to your position. Breaking the pawn shop’s glass door by accident is a common mistake that angers the keeper, so click carefully when entering and leaving buildings.
How to keep your heat manageable
Since you can’t reduce stars, discipline before and during a robbery is what keeps a run alive. Prepare first, then act with a plan so you spend as little time as possible in a hot zone.
Healing supplies are worth grabbing early since you take damage constantly. Gas station fridges hold food items like Cronch, Apples, and Hotdogs that restore health, and you can usually find a Medic Bag or two on the counter near the register.
How to escape the police
When pressure gets heavy, stop looting and commit fully to getting away. Trying to grab one more item during an active chase is how runs end.
C to crouch and slide for tighter, faster movement during a chase, and press X to drop your current tool or low-value items to free up space when you need to move light.
Your vehicle is your lifeline, so keep it healthy. Cop NPCs shoot at your car more aggressively as your stars rise, and hitting trees or people on the road also drains its health. Pick up repair tools like Drills from the American Tire shops in later towns, and when you’re not under fire, equip a Drill and use it on the car for a quick fix.
Surviving a five-star run to Mexico
Reaching level 5 unlocks the FBI Most Wanted badge, and escaping to Mexico while still holding five stars earns the Hardened Criminal badge. Since heat never resets, a five-star border run is one of the hardest challenges in the game and demands full preparation.
Before you let your stars climb that high, lock in your vehicle health, fuel, inventory, and escape route. Keep in mind that fuel gets more expensive the further you travel, so budget enough cash in each town to make it into the next one. Running dry between checkpoints leaves you stranded with the police still chasing.
Once the heat is out of control, abandon any thought of extra loot and drive straight for the border. You’ll know a run succeeded when you cross into Mexico and the escape completes, awarding the International Fugitive badge, plus Hardened Criminal if you arrived still carrying all five stars. Until then, treat every star as permanent and play to outrun the response, not to clear it.
