Raleigh Police: More Graffiti, More Gangs

Chief Asking For New Gang Unit

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Raleigh police believe an increase of graffiti in the City of Oaks is directly linked to an increase of gangs. Police told NBC 17 the number of verified gangs in Raleigh has grown from two in 2000 to a dozen this year.

"You can probably correlate the increase of graffiti with the increase of gang presence in the city," Sgt. Tim Sincock, of the Raleigh Police Department, told NBC 17.

Sincock said police are tracking gang activity with a map, placing dots where they've found what they designate as gang graffiti or anywhere they've had contact with gang members in the past year and a half.

"They're here and we can only figure it will increase as the city continues to grow in population and size," Sincock said.

Authorities even try to paint over the gang signs as soon as they can, like a utility box that was hit last week on the city's east side (see photo).

Chief Jane Perlov is asking the city to pay for a new gang unit. Right now, the department's threat response unit splits time on gang investigations.

"It creates a tremendous volume of work both from an intelligence standpoint and from an enforcement standpoint," Sincock said.

Police emphasize that the city is not having gang shootouts, turf wars or other major gang incidents yet; and they want to keep it that way.