[Nalu]

Hi Everyone, I've posted a few times about our thoughts on the possible move to Florida. I was disturbed to read on line in the Sentinal that Florida has 1100 gangs and 49,000 members. Not sure how they get these figures, but I'm a little disturbed nonetheless. I'd love to hear locals thoughts on this.
Has this always been an issue, or is it being driven by the economy. I'm really starting to rethink my plans now. Crime is definately a big decision factor. Thanks! Angela

[newguy101]

49,000 that's not alot,how many people in the state 17 million or so..if you spent the day watching all the news about crime you would have your place set up like a fire-base. sort it out a little more for the area your interested in. don't let the media decide your life. "live the life you love" love the life you live..good luck.

[MiamiRob]

^ actually Florida is closer to 19 million people and the gangs that I have heard of are imported from LA and other cities that are more notorious for gangs than Florida is.
About the only time I hear of gang violence is when one member kills another.

[beachmouse]

98% of gang activity happens in areas you'd either have to be lost or looking to buy drugs in order to stumble across. Save for the rather rare easy target home robbery, they generally do not cause trouble in the nice parts of town, and even in those cases, there's usually a personal connection to the gang involved.

Freak violent crime against strangers is not unheard of here, but the violent crime in middle class areas is far more likely to be of the domestic violence variety or other relationships gone wrong than a roving bands of yobs scenario.

[Nalu]

Thanks everyone, I guess I'm just from a small town, and the thought of having to think about things like crime, is an eyeopener. I know that if you live life of the premise of what you read in papers it's a scary world indeed. It's just hard for me from across the country to glean what information is sensationalized and what is a reality I need to be aware. I appreciate your posts Beachmouse, you're always helpful. Angela

[Lilybeans]

There is a lot of gang activity. The small towns are seeing an increase. Call the Sheriffs office in the area where you want to go, and ask them for gang in formation, and they can tell you how what and how many are in the county.

Last I heard, there were over 25 gangs operating in Martin county, which is relatively small and affluent.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by Nalu

Hi Everyone, I've posted a few times about our thoughts on the possible move to Florida. I was disturbed to read on line in the Sentinal that Florida has 1100 gangs and 49,000 members. Not sure how they get these figures, but I'm a little disturbed nonetheless. I'd love to hear locals thoughts on this.
Has this always been an issue, or is it being driven by the economy. I'm really starting to rethink my plans now. Crime is definately a big decision factor. Thanks! Angela

49,000 is about .2% of the population.

[DailyJournalist]

There are actually some pretty violent gangs in Florida, their power and reach is spreading even to rural areas of Florida.


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[Mike1306]

That's funny.

The goony city guy tells me if I want to go through Orange County I better be strapped up. In years of traveling all over the Orlando area I never felt the need to have a gun. Never needed one either since no one ever bothered me.

Yes, OP there are some bad areas of Florida. I lived in Lauderhill at one time and it was not a good area, I worked for a company whose office was in Overtown and I worked all over Dade and Broward County and there were some bad areas. I am sure there are bad areas around Orlando also. Tampa has some bad areas.

Any large city is going to have some crime and gangs. Move to a most small towns here and I am sure it will be very similar to where you are now.

That is not to say you can not live in a large city here and be safe. You will just need to know there will be some areas to avoid.

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by Nalu

Thanks everyone, I guess I'm just from a small town, and the thought of having to think about things like crime, is an eyeopener. I know that if you live life of the premise of what you read in papers it's a scary world indeed. It's just hard for me from across the country to glean what information is sensationalized and what is a reality I need to be aware. I appreciate your posts Beachmouse, you're always helpful. Angela

I would say it's probably pretty rare that you have no gangs in your area. I wish I could remember the link because there's a map that shows you all different types of gangs and hate organizations from the KKK to crazed religious cults.

Another easy way to tell gang activity is if you ever noticed a pair of shoes with the strings tied together thrown over a power line. This is one way of marking gang territory. I always just thought somebody was mean to somebody else and threw their shoes up there until a police officer clued me in.