gangland moving around Cherry Street?

[izmophonik]

Ok, what does the hanging shoes from a power line mean?  I've been told gangs use it as a marker.  If I believe that I am really disturbed to see hanging tennis shoes right in front of Full Moon and the Cherry Street Daylight donuts.  I also have noticed a lot of homeless traffic around here too.  *biting nails*

[Chicken Little]

I've heard that they mark their territory by urinating and rubbing their privates on trees...oh, wait...I think that's tigers.

No, I'm on Cherry Street a bunch, and I haven't noticed any gangs...no teens whatsoever at night.  Double A lives there, he'd know.

I have noticed more homeless dudes, but they are not a danger...just politely wave 'em off, "Sorry.", and keep moving.  I attribute this to the fact that, with the closing of the liquor store at 11th and Elgin, Cherry Street is now the closest booze.

[Double A]

I saw that. It's really been driving me crazy. I haven't noticed anything unusual(I am used to the drunks, homeless and stray cat populations), but there was a drive by in Yorktown recently(no joke).

[Chicken Little]

Forget it, Jake.  It's Yorktown.

/Actually, that's really weird, must be a fluke.  Yorktown is great. It's quiet and sweet.  I looked for a place over there for a long time.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by izmophonik

Ok, what does the hanging shoes from a power line mean?  I've been told gangs use it as a marker.  If I believe that I am really disturbed to see hanging tennis shoes right in front of Full Moon and the Cherry Street Daylight donuts.  I also have noticed a lot of homeless traffic around here too.  *biting nails*

Usually means you have a few silly teenagers. Kind of like finding one pole or tree covered in bubble gum lol.  Its one of those silly things that people do. "Disturbing" as those things may be, I am sure with the proper psychiatric help you will be able to somehow work through it. []

However if you find this shocking be warned it could be a sign of worse to come. You may find a tree suddenly covered in toilet paper. Gasp![:O]  Or one day lots of real estate yard signs and yard ornaments will suddenly appear,  all in one spot..... "passes out in horror at the notion".

[inteller]

Wow....never lived in a college town I see.  This is pretty common.  gang related.....sure, if you want it to be.[}:)]

[AMP]

That is a gang bang thing in some areas.

Many gang members normally come out after midnight in most areas and do their dirty work from 1am until around 5am.  

I have recently noticed more gang tags around where our offices are in the TU area.

Typically gangs will tag a building or mark the area with their graffiti or toss shoes over power lines that indicates someone in that business or area has done a member wrong, or to mark the turff there. Other members of that gang are given a sign to commit a crime against that business. Such as stealing vehicles and taking them to secluded areas, pouring gasoline on them and setting fire to them. Or breaking out windows, general theft of items around the property, vandalism and other crimes.

Normally once you see gang sign graffiti some sort of crime against that establishment is less than a month away. We got hit a few times at several of our locations around Tulsa, and that was the normal procedure. I have seen the shoes over the power lines, spray paint on the building and other forms of marks used. Back in the day transients would put a mark on the street or curbside if that person living there had given them a handout. This indicated to any transient that followed that person was a Mark and one could get food or other comfort there.

In today's society the meaning has changed. Often times committing a crime against someone is admission into the gangs. I have been told and have read where a person or persons that commit these types of crimes tell the gang leader what they did. He secretly video tapes their story and then tells them if they get out of line he will turn them over to the authorities. Tow the line or else type of contract.

There is a middle school near there and it could be as simple as a walk home from school prank on another student, but in today's times one can't be too aware of one's surroundings.

Story goes that a pair of shoes hanging on a tree within reach in front of a dope house indicates the dealer is out of dope for the time being, don't bother to stop or knock.

[Breadburner]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

I've heard that they mark their territory by urinating and rubbing their privates on trees...oh, wait...I think that's tigers.

No, I'm on Cherry Street a bunch, and I haven't noticed any gangs...no teens whatsoever at night.  Double A lives there, he'd know.

I have noticed more homeless dudes, but they are not a danger...just politely wave 'em off, "Sorry.", and keep moving.  I attribute this to the fact that, with the closing of the liquor store at 11th and Elgin, Cherry Street is now the closest booze.

Hang out at the Full Moon on Tuesday night from 9 until 2....You might change your opinion....

[izmophonik]

Holy crap.  A drive by in Yorktown. I'm a bit shocked.  I have seen some of the crowd at Full Moon lately.  Beat up cars with 22" rims and some thugs hanging around the front with hip hop music blaring.  I don't know what is going on but this crap wasn't here 3 years ago when I moved into Orcutt Addn. A.K.A. Swan Lake.

[izmophonik]

I wonder if the City will take it down if I call them.  Maybe I could get a metal ladder and climb it soaking wet and barefoot to get the shoes off.

/sarcasm

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little


Forget it, Jake.  It's Yorktown.

/Actually, that's really weird, must be a fluke.  Yorktown is great. It's quiet and sweet.  I looked for a place over there for a long time.

I think it's probably a fluke. The worst problem I've had is that the sidewalks have been torn up on both sides of my street and used as staging areas for construction materials by Metro Lofts to build their developments for about a year.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by izmophonik

Ok, what does the hanging shoes from a power line mean?  I've been told gangs use it as a marker.  If I believe that I am really disturbed to see hanging tennis shoes right in front of Full Moon and the Cherry Street Daylight donuts.  I also have noticed a lot of homeless traffic around here too.  *biting nails*

I think it means there are a bunch of idiots with too much time on their hands.  I have seen these hanging shoes on lines in many cities around the U.S. over the past 15 years or so.  I wouldn't attribute anything to it but some morons wanting attention.

[kylieosu]

I saw those shoes today too...made me wonder as well. I am attributing it to random drunk people. But who knows.

[joiei]

Shoes hanging on a wire are not a gang thing.  I worked at a super exclusive private resort in the Keys and occasionally members kids would play that trick on friends.  Leaving the staff having to retrieve them off the powerlines.  I would imagine that it is the same group that routinely paper houses in Maple Ridge or around Utica Square.  And that happens with some regularity.

[cannon_fodder]

I am guilty of throwing shoes on a wire a time or two.

In fact, just 4-5 years back I wore a hole in a pair of shoes while playing Tennis at the University of Tulsa.  I threw the shoes in the trash as I was leaving the court and my buddy chucked them up on a light pole.  They hung there for 2 years that I know of.  Guilty by association, and because I was amused every time I walked by.

When I was in undergraduate, I was staggering home from the bars one night when my companion kind-sorta fell over.  So naturally, I took his shoes and threw them up on a a wire outside his house (for having to carry him home, I guess.  made perfect sense at the time).  Being right across from the University President's mansion, they were down in short order.  Have to imagine it happens all the time on campus/near the bars.

I hate to imagine I caused gang scares because of my antics.  I think we should look for more concrete signs than something like shoes on a wire - something a drunk, a teenager, or just an idiot could accomplish.