Police say gang activity on the rise in Houston suburbs

[Slick Vik]

 

Texas' public safety director, Steven McGraw, recently warned that "gang violence and crime are a chief threat to public safety in Texas." This followed release of a state report this year that found gang membership across Texas may exceed 100,000 individuals and there is a high concentration in the Houston region.

The Houston-area gangs are migrating to the suburbs because they think they won't "be policed and recognized" there as on their own turf, and then after committing crimes, they can race back to Houston to hide, authorities say.

Another reason for the shift is that Houston and Harris County have the tactical experience and resources to aggressively combat the gangs, driving them into the suburbs, said Detective Jennifer Kiser, Fort Bend County's gang expert. She said her county has experienced Houston gangs making raids there and now has 1,800 documented gang members living in Fort Bend.

 

 

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/woodlands/crime-courts/article/Police-say-gang-activity-on-the-rise-in-suburbs-5706377.php?cmpid=hcec
 

[democide]

We're becoming another California, or Los Angeles, a gangland.

[Sky-guy]

Hope we don't become the next chicago:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/22/Chicago-Becomes-Chiraq-More-Dangerous-than-Terror-Torn-Iraq

[LTAWACS]

What percentage are illegals?

[samagon]

 

 

This followed release of a state report this year that found gang membership across Texas may exceed 100,000 individuals and there is a high concentration in the Houston region.

 

My mind is wondering how they get this data? Do they look at the gang's tax returns and get a membership count based on dues collected?

[Fringe]

This would explain all the smash-and-grabs going on these days. They used to be rare. Now I see one on the news almost daily. 

[kylejack]

I'm not surprised. It seems like lately every time I hear about a shooting it's in some place like Cypress rather than the inner city. There were zero murders in Fifth Ward last year. Amazing.

[august948]

Crime happens all over.  Latest case I've heard about was the guy found dead by a jogger in the Heights yesterday.

[brian0123]

The point about police in the city versus the burbs is spot on. The biggest challenge the suburban police will have in the future is an ever expanding coverage area with not enough police to cover it. Factor in cheaper large houses that make great grow houses, slower police response times, and those wide open roads to move around quickly... and yes, it makes complete sense to be conducting criminal business out there. I think their best bet would be to increase tax rates (yes, I know people move out there for cheaper rates), and hire more police. I'm not sure how bad crime will have to get to convince the burbs of that.

[WiseGuy713]

I lived in Los Angeles for a few years, gang culture on the west coast is very different from that of Houston. One thing I would be very wary of in the suburbs is Asian gang or crew activity. They operate differently especially in Houston but the crimes are primarily the same, if you own your own business be extra cautious. Victimizing members of the Asian community is a thing of the past, making home invasions and burglary open to all ethnicities. Also especially in Houston and surrounding suburbs there are a lot of these guys living in high income homes. Stay safe and never underestimate someone's intentions based on appearance. I'm pretty knowledgeable on gangs in general so any questions feel free to ask. LoL and this is my first post......crud.