[@Duthguy]
You are considered to have every skill at "level 0" before you put points into it. So assuming you have a high enough attribute the points you pay = the level of the skill

Just a reccomendation, guys, but GET A CAR/TRUCK/HELICOPTER/WHATEVER-THE-HELL once I get the gear list up, with enough seats for the group plus at least one other person. There was one game where the team needed to kidnap someone but their only vehicle was a two-seater, and there were cops everywhere. 
And they didn't realise their problem until they were on the way out.