Cranes are heavy machinery used for heavy lifting or construction work that appear in some Grand Theft Auto games.

Interactive cranes

GTA 1

In Grand Theft Auto 1, cranes were positioned at the docks in the game. Cranes were used to transport vehicles onto a ship where the player was given varying amounts of money depending on the condition of the vehicle. They are meant to be a source of income other than the missions. They are also used in the missions of the game. The crane works by driving a vehicle under a designated area ane exiting when the crane starts moving and giving money when the vehicle is on the ship.

GTA 2

In Grand Theft Auto 2, cranes are used similarly to the way they are in GTA 1. A vehicle is driven under the crane and lifted into a certain area where money is awarded to the player. Instead of putting vehicles on a ship for export, the crane in GTA 2 drops vehicles into a car crusher. The awards given to the player are also more rewarding than in GTA 1 since certain vehickes offer some other rewards such as weaponry.

GTA San Andreas

In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the player may use certain cranes around the State of San Andreas. The player can adjust the height and position of the object that the crane is holding (either a wrecking ball or a large magnet) and use it to smash/pickup objects.

GTA Chinatown Wars

In Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars during the mission Counterfeit Gangster, the player is requried to use a crane to dump cars in the water.

Trivia

• In the Easter Basin Docks, if the player drives an export/import vehicle onto the red marker with the crane magnet still attached, it will cause a funny glitch. CJ will get out of vehicle as usual, when it's ready for exporting. But having the magnet on the car will cause the car to be hanging in the air, while CJ jumps and shouts as he gets out of the car. Even better, he will not be injured after his jump. (The car will still be successful exported even after this glitch.)