Graffiti continues to be used as a written form of communication between street gangs. An observant patrol officer can read graffiti and collect valuable information about past, current and future gang activities. Graffiti can be used to mark off turf boundaries, give insults to rival gangs, act as a warning of impending death, list fallen comrades, announce the presence of a gang in a certain area of the city or show gang alliances. Editor's Note: Images contain profanity.
Gang Graffiti
I.B. refers to Island Brothers, which is given a more pejorative name on this wall.
G.M.T. refers to Get Money Taggers.
This Latin King tagging was found in the Fairhaven neighborhood of Chapin, South Carolina.
A slew of colorful tagging on a house in Salisbury, North Carolina.
This tag refers to the Native Mob set.
Criscuolo Park 9 (Mob Squad-Fairside 2x).
Gangsta Killer Blood
8 Tre-Crip 2
H.M.W. refers to Hills Most Wanted.
Fairhaven (a.k.a. Fair Side) is a neighborhood in Chapin, South Carolina.
Latin Kings
This Blood set tagged the back of a stop sign in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Graffiti from a set calling itself the Truman Street Boys is seen here.
G.K.B. refers to Gangsta Killer Blood.
A slew of tagging is seen on a bench in Trowbridge Park (Mich.).
Drive-by shooting threats are often used, such as "5 poppin, 6 droppin." This one was found in the Fairhaven neighborhood of Chapin, South Carolina. It's a Blood set.
Unidentified MS-13 tagging.
Crosby 1
9 Tre tagging in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Tagging of two different Blood sets at 926 Chapel St.
G-Side.
Tagging near Bulter Street and Bost Street in Salisbury, North Carolina.
This Crip tagging was found in Salisbury, North Carolina.
"LK 360" refers to Latin King, 360 degrees of the crown.
Criscuolo Park (Geek Squad).
Tagging by 9 Tre Blood set in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Bloods and Crips Hill 4x