Gang Numbers

Twin Falls

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By S Casey

Twin Falls Police say they have responded to quite a few gang-related calls in recent years.
In 2006, there were eight cases of gang-related crimes and then last year they saw five.
Staff Sergeant John Wilson says they usually see about five to ten gang-related calls each year.
Wilson says, "For the most part, they're property crimes, dealing with graffiti, vandalism and things of that nature. Once in awhile, we'll have something like a drive-by shooting or some sort of assault."
Back in March of 2005 Twin Falls resident Marty Pdraza was a victim of a drive-by shooting.
The victim believed that he was targeted by a gang.
But what is the difference between gang-related and gang crimes?
Wilson says, "The gang crimes that we see many are gang related, more peripheral, not really gang driven. We don't see a lot of crimes that occur strictly because the involved parties are trying to further the street gang they claim to be a part of."
Wilson says that fortunately they do not deal with many gang-related or gang crimes.
But he understands the reasons why people choose to belong to a gang.
Wilson says, "Many people find things in a gang that they're missing from their life companionship, acceptance, people who treat you as a brother or sister."

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