Graffiti Tags

[Elizabeth]

Walking around 9th today south of Wharton I noticed a lot of fresh "MS 13" and "S 8" tags on houses and stores that appeared to be vacant. Is this a local gang? Does anyone know what this stands for?

[Bob_Head]

Walking around 9th today south of Wharton I noticed a lot of fresh "MS 13" and "S 8" tags on houses and stores that appeared to be vacant. Is this a local gang? Does anyone know what this stands for?

It means you've got kids playing wannabe in your area. No, MS 13 is not a local gang. Mara Salvatrucha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[BornAndRaised]

I seen them too and was hoping it was just kids being wannabe thugs. With the increased Mexican presence in SP though, I hope it isn't true MS 13 because that would be bad. We have enough trouble with the block to block drama around here.

[arjay]

I don't understand why you would think this was kids playing wannabe and not for real - I read the wiki you linked to, it mentions that M13 has recently moved into DC, not much of a stretch that they might be starting to recruit here.

[Bob_Head]

I don't understand why you would think this was kids playing wannabe and not for real - I read the wiki you linked to, it mentions that M13 has recently moved into DC, not much of a stretch that they might be starting to recruit here.

I've heard they do have some presence here, too, but not in your area. You need to understand that Philly has a mature and very complex drug market. Lots of gangs have tried to crack it, and most have failed. MS 13 isn't given to the type of subtlety and tactical nuance needed to make serious inroads into the market. If they were making a serious go of it, I'd expect the body county to be quite high by now. I expect more knowledgeable voices to chime in on this, but I really can't help but think these are wannabes. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.

[Ho Chi Minh]

I've heard they do have some presence here, too, but not in your area. You need to understand that Philly has a mature and very complex drug market. Lots of gangs have tried to crack it, and most have failed. MS 13 isn't given to the type of subtlety and tactical nuance needed to make serious inroads into the market. If they were making a serious go of it, I'd expect the body county to be quite high by now. I expect more knowledgeable voices to chime in on this, but I really can't help but think these are wannabes. Maybe that's just wishful thinking.

There is a lucrative and untapped resource for a gang such as MS13, the influx as Mexicans. They are ripe to be exploited by organized crime. The situation is very similar to the Italians a hundred years ago.

[EPXvin]

MS-13 is Salvadoran not Mexican. I don't think there is a very large population from El Salvador in South Philly. I still can't find a Pupuseria anywhere in Philly. If anyone knows of one let me know.

[hubba1]

We've had some wierd tags popping up around me on 15th and Moore\Mifflin area in the past week... its a name, and then they were putting swastikas at the end of the tag... the places that got hit painted over or removed them so quickly, I haven't actually seen it...but I have been hearing some of the neighbors talking about it this past week

[Satchel]

Noticed this morning the MS 13 tags at 9th and Emily. They have big, red X's over them, with another tag of "MCP', if I remember right.

[EPXvin]

Well this is no good.

"MCP - Mexicans Causing Panic -- A Mexican-American street gang found in several locations across the country. They have arguably been most active in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California. "

Gangs in the United States - Internet Accuracy Project

[cjm1971]

MS-13 is Salvadoran not Mexican. I don't think there is a very large population from El Salvador in South Philly. I still can't find a Pupuseria anywhere in Philly. If anyone knows of one let me know.

Try Pura Vida at 6th & Fairmount in Northern Liberties. Was there on Saturday and had the pupuseria with pickled veggies, quite tasty.

[AngelB]

I only saw the Phanatic there this time partying... Sorry dude but this might be the bad man at 9th across from Pat's acting up again!

Phillie Phanatic puts up tag in Fishtown « Streets Dept

[hubba1]

I only saw the Phanatic there this time partying... Sorry dude but this might be the bad man at 9th across from Pat's acting up again!

Phillie Phanatic puts up tag in Fishtown « Streets Dept

I like the Phanatic across from Pats, I laugh everytime I see it..

[Angelrk]

As soon as I started seeing the tags (9th & Percy & Dickinson & Cross), I was worried about the actual gangs and about wannabes. Neither is any good in my book (though one certainly worse than the others). I did online tips to both the Philly police and the Philly office of FBI, at least to make the potential presence known to authorities.

[MizFormaldehyde]

Well this is no good.

"MCP - Mexicans Causing Panic -- A Mexican-American street gang found in several locations across the country. They have arguably been most active in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California. "

Gangs in the United States - Internet Accuracy Project

That sucks.
And MS-13 is here for sure. Older article,but, still.
An Action News Special Report 6/23/06 | 6abc.com

[Ho Chi Minh]

As soon as I started seeing the tags (9th & Percy & Dickinson & Cross), I was worried about the actual gangs and about wannabes. Neither is any good in my book (though one certainly worse than the others). I did online tips to both the Philly police and the Philly office of FBI, at least to make the potential presence known to authorities.

Very good idea.

From the Metro: Metro - Graffiti in S. Philly has national links

[Bob_Head]

From the Metro: Metro - Graffiti in S. Philly has national links

“Even if your MS-13 set isn’t recognized [nationally], the very fact that they are tagging the streets tells me they believe themselves to be MS-13 and that is all that matters,” cautioned Sgt. Paul Hestekind, who specializes in gang behavior at Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections.

Interesting that they had to use a quote from the Wisconsin (a long way from South Philly) Department of Corrections. I suspect the PPD gang unit didn't give them an adequately sensationalistic quote.

[illogicalmethod]

MS-13 is Salvadoran not Mexican. I don't think there is a very large population from El Salvador in South Philly. I still can't find a Pupuseria anywhere in Philly. If anyone knows of one let me know.

MS13 is Salvadoran in origin, however, they DO, in fact, recruit Mexicans, as well as anyone else of hispanic origin and have been for some time.
Yes, they are in the Philly area.

[mixiboi]

Yeah, they been around for a long time tagging(I seen tags since 2004), but that is pretty much it....You know kids and their wanting to be cool. Hell, you can find "Crips" and "Bloods" in Philly too...

But really, Philly doesn't really do gangs well anymore(Well not those type of gangs).