Gang graffiti on fences has people on the Northside worried that violence could be plaguing their neighborhood.
"One thing I can tell you is no parent wants to walk outside and see this," said a man who didn’t want to be identified.
Graffiti that said “Rollin 20s Westside bloods” appeared on fences around a Northside neighborhood Monday, but it's from a Westside gang.
Action News Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said this is a gang’s warning sign.
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"The message could be anything, like 'we are here,' or 'we are taking over your territory, be ready, we are coming,'" said Jefferson.
It’s cause for alarm for some people in the area.
"There's a park down the street. Your child can go down the street, they are free to getting robbed or stabbed. It’s unbelievable,” a neighbor said.
Others say they see stuff like this too often.
"They've been here for years. This is just the way it's always been. Violence is nothing new here," Terrell Williams said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a dedicated unit to investigate gangs and their behavior, but Jefferson said it doesn’t fully combat the problem.
"Residents all over Jacksonville and particularly where this graffiti was found need to pay attention," Jefferson said.
Jefferson said 80 percent of the crime that happens in Jacksonville is because of gangs.
Cox Media Group
