Last night Minneapolis residents attended a Gang Prevention 101 class for their neighborhood. Recently, a number of violent street gangs have moved in from other parts of the city into the 5th Precinct. Residents were encouraged to attend this class to find out how to combat this criminal activity.

The residents noticed more drug deals on street corners and tagging nearby buildings. They asked police to arm them with non-violent ammunition so they can battle back the street gangs. However, the Gang Prevention 101 class teaches residents how to keep their homes safe, cars safe and what to do if they see suspicious people or activity in their neighborhood. The police are offering to do premise surveys at no cost as well as business surveys to help secure their property and keep the neighborhood safe.

Gangs no longer identify themselves by colors but by behaviors they display among themselves. The best way to fight gang violence and control gang activity in your neighborhood is to contact police if you suspect gang activity in your neighborhood.