Some of the material presented at the gang awareness meeting was developed to serve as an awareness guide to help suppress gang activity in Barrow County. Investigator Bobby Wheeler and Deputy Blake Bodenmiller discussed a variety of factors to look for and signs of potential gang activity.

The following is a list of gangs that are possibly active in Barrow County and signs that the gang may be active in the community.

Gang: MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) Originated: Los Angeles, Calif. Race: Mainly Central Americans, Hispanics Colors: Blue and White Signs: Devil's pitchfork Tattoos and Tagging(Graffiti): Devil's pitchfork, MS-13, three dots on hand Threat: Said to be one of the most violent gangs in the U.S.

Gang: Bloods Set 214 Race: Whites and some blacks Colors: Red Signs: Five-pointed star, MOB, red bandannas, left pant leg rolled up, hat turned left Tattoos: Five-pointed star, MOB, Bloods Arrests: Drug sales, aggravated assault, burglary, weapon possession Turf: West side of Winder, Bethlehem, South West Statham, Auburn

Gang: BOE 23 (Bustin on Everybody) Race: All races (Hispanics, whites, blacks, asians) Signs or tattoos: BOE, 23 Number of Identified members in Barrow County: 46 Arrests: Drug trafficking, homicide, burglary, weapons possession, felony obstruction, rape, car theft Turf: Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Winder, Braselton, Doraville, Chamblee

Gang: AC 357 (Hmong Pride) Race: Asian Colors: Blue and White Signs: Tagging, BK, Pitch fork, AC 357 Tattoos: AC 357, 357, Hmong pride, BK, pitch fork Number identified: 17 Arrests: Burglary, weapons possession, felony obstruction, aggravated assault, car theft, kidnapping, rape Turf: NE Winder, SE Braselton, Auburn

Other Gangs and numbers to look for: SUR 13 (Surenos, Calif.) 18th Street gang Crips

Common Gang Symbols and Signs to Look For:

Tear drop tattoo

Comedy and Tragedy mask tattoos ("Smile now, cry later")

Three dots on hand in triangle form ("Mi Vida Loca" or "My Crazy Life")

Belt hanging exactly 18 inches long

Informal dress code involving one color for hats, scarves, shoelaces, jewelry, tattoos

Street slang

Hand signs

Unexplained wealth

Graffiti or tagging on personal property, book covers, notebooks, clothing, buildings. (Graffiti may include initials, numbers, names or expressed racism or hatred)

Photos signifying gang culture (including Internet and phone pictures)

Internet accounts with gang graffiti (MySpace, Facebook, E-mail and Instant Messenger accounts)

To learn more about gangs visit www.knowgangs.com or http://www.ggia.net/involvement.htm.

To report gang activity or graffiti, contact your local police department.

"Bother us, please," said Auburn Chief of Police Fred Brown. "Don't expect someone else to call it in."

Originally published Sunday, June 29, 2008