gangs around broad st. near vcu (Richmond, Glen Allen: high crime, school, restaurant)

[oleo]

A friend of mine was assaulted and robbed by 5 black guys (late teens, early 20's) on the corner of Broad and Allison, across from Pleasant's Hardware just last night. I'm guessing the restaurant Cabo's closed because this area is getting really $hitty. The cops ended up running after the guys and found them behind the Kroger on Broad St. near Maggy Walker School. My friend was just walking along and all of a sudden just ambushed. He's ok, but it could have been a lot worse. Dark out, but only 7:30pm at night.

Have you guys seen an increase of gang activity in this area?

[richmondpics]

Actually, about a week ago, we were driving back from Carytown... we crossed Ellwood on a cross street and noticed some stirring in the shadows. I whipped back around and a group of about 5 black "kids" had jumped an older guy just feet from his front steps. The cops arrived in about a minute but they had scattered off by then. He was bruised up, but okay. The good in the situation was that about 10 neighbors were out in the street almost immediately, checking on him, calling the cops, etc... and the cops were incredibly responsive. I wonder if there was any connection?

[Anders15]

This just sounds like kids with nothing better to do. I would not call them "gangs" though. I've had an encounter also but I'm still here just like you all

[oleo]

Originally Posted by richmondpics

Actually, about a week ago, we were driving back from Carytown... we crossed Ellwood on a cross street and noticed some stirring in the shadows. I whipped back around and a group of about 5 black "kids" had jumped an older guy just feet from his front steps. The cops arrived in about a minute but they had scattered off by then. He was bruised up, but okay. The good in the situation was that about 10 neighbors were out in the street almost immediately, checking on him, calling the cops, etc... and the cops were incredibly responsive. I wonder if there was any connection?

Whoa. That sounds exactly what happened to my friend. It's probably the same "kids". What happened afterwards? Did they catch them? Was this at night? What street exactly? Did they have any weapons?

[richmondpics]

I think it was on Colonial between Ellwood and Floyd. Unfortunately, they ran off before the police got there and since it was dark and they wore dark clothing, a good description was near impossible. It was right about 7:30. No weapons were displayed... they knocked the guy down from behind and then kicked and punched him. They didn't rob him, but the cops think they were spooked by his yelling and the neighbors coming outside.

[RVA-Jsn20]

They probably aren't a "gang", gangs hustle drugs, weapons, and sometimes women - BIG DIFFERENCE. Sounds like random violence, certainly not new to Richmond and certainly to be expected especially in these times. Be careful!

[camer]

Can anyone speak to the high crime indices in Richmond, particularly in the Glen Allen region? I've read only good things about the Glen Allen area in various Richmond threads so it REALLY surprised me to discover that the crime stats do not trail too far from stats found in CA cities like East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Jose and Vallejo.

Is Glen Allen really as safe and wonderful as people say?

[richmondpics]

Glen Allen is fine.

[ric75]

As a general rule for all of Richmond, if you stay out of areas whose names end in "Court" you'll be fine

[ebonediva]

Originally Posted by ric75

As a general rule for all of Richmond, if you stay out of areas whose names end in "Court" you'll be fine

Explain the reasoning?