Small Businesses a Tempting Target for Gang-Related Crime

A few years back I attended the Police-Security Expo in Atlantic City. In previous years since 2001, the theme of the annual expos had been terrorism, but this particular year I saw an emphasis on violent street gangs as well.

I recall attending a seminar at the expo and hearing a New Jersey state trooper describe the rise of violent gangs in New Jersey and across the country. He spoke of the gangs' increasing violence and their successful methods of recruiting teenagers and pre-teens from suburban neighborhoods as well as from the inner city.

The gang members, he said, flaunt cars, jewelry, sex, and drugs. The gangs also offer a sense of belonging and "family" to the children of broken homes and dysfunctional families.

1.4 Million U.S. Gang Members

He spoke of gang-related crime as "domestic terrorism."

I thought of that seminar when last week the FBI announced the release of a disturbing report called the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment.

The assessment, prepared by the National Gang Intelligence Center with the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies contributing to it, stated that approximately 1.4 million gang members belonging to more than 33,000 gangs were criminally active in the United States as of April 2011.

According to the assessment, gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in some jurisdictions and up to 90 percent in other jurisdictions.

"Gangs continue to expand, evolve, and become more violent," said Kevin Perkins, the Assistant FBI Director, Criminal Investigative Division. "The FBI, along with its federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, strives to disrupt and prevent their criminal activities and seek justice for innocent victims of their crimes."

Expanding Reach, New Crimes

But here's the important point for small business owners: Gang victims are not just inter-city kids and drug addicts. Business people located in cities, suburbs, and even rural areas are also being victimized by gang-related crime.

The National Intelligence Center's assessment states that gangs are increasingly engaging in non-traditional white-collar crimes such as counterfeiting, identity theft, credit card fraud, and selling stolen goods.

"Gangs are becoming increasingly adaptable and sophisticated, employing new and advanced technology to facilitate criminal activity discreetly, enhance their criminal operations, and connect with other gang members, criminal organizations, and potential recruits nationwide and even worldwide," stated the assessment.

In the past a small business owner's only contact with gang members was perhaps seeing gang graffiti on their property. But as the national assessment noted, the gang members are moving into white-collar crime because of the huge money to be made, as well as the light jail time meted out to those who get caught.

So what can a business owner do to prevent being victimized by gang members?

Law enforcement and security professionals suggest that business owners join or form a business watch.

Business watches form an alliance with the police and through this alliance business people stay informed of gang activity and crime trends in their area. Business owners can also learn what crime prevention measures they ought to be taking.

If you suspect gang activity near your business, call the police and report it.