Gangs
Signs, Symbols & Graffiti
Colors
 Gang colors have traditionally been shown with bandanas. This
practice began in the California prisons, where inmates were issued
a bandana as part of their clothing.
 Bandanas are treated as a flag by gang members, and
are often given the same reverence that is given the
American flag. Burning a rival gang member’s bandana
is an ultimate act of disrespect.
 A bandana that is carefully folded (and possibly pressed
with an iron) is a strong indicator of gang association,
whereas a bandana crumpled in a back pocket is not.
Colors
 Bloods – Red
 Crips – Blue
 Latin Kings – Gold
 MS-13 – Blue/Black
Clothing
 Colors in other clothing may also indicate
gang membership. In the 1980s and
1990s, it was common to see gang
members literally head-to-toe in red or
blue. This is far less common in 2009,
when many gang members have gone
“low pro” (low profile) to avoid the attention
of law enforcement.
Clothing
 Colored clothing commonly used by gangs
includes web belts, shoes, shoe laces, and
ball caps. Manufacturers aid gangs by
producing clothing in color combinations
that gangs desire, going so far as
producing professional sports team attire
in non-team colors such as New York
Yankees hats in black and yellow (for the
Latin Kings).
Numbers
 All street gangs and many gang-like groups associate with certain
numbers or use numbers to communicate with other gangs or
groups. Numbers may have significance such as the location where
the gang formed. Numbers may be associated with the Nation
allegiance of a gang. Numbers may also represent the letters of the
alphabet — a practice of nearly all street gangs and gang-like
groups.
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5 People Nation, Bloods
360 Latin Kings
666 Neo-Nazi groups
XIII – MS-13
6 – Crips
187 Murder / death threat (all gangs)
Hand Symbols
 Hand signals are used by gangs as a
means of communicating gang affiliation
and/or as a challenge to rival gang
members, called “throwing signs.” These
signals or signs are made by forming
letters or numbers with the hands and
fingers, depicting the gang symbol or
initials. By using these signals, the gang
member can show to which gang he
belongs and issue challenges to other
gangs in the vicinity.
 "Throwing up" a gang sign with the hands
is one of the most known and obvious
forms of "claiming." It is used in many
situations where other identifiers may not
be possible or appropriate, and can also
show that a gang member is in the area to
"do business" as opposed to just passing
through.
Bloods
Graffiti
 If graffiti consists of
bubble script and uses
more than a single color
of paint, it is most likely
not gang-related.
Consider strikingly
angular letters, which
are painted in one color
and often combined with
satanic or religious
images, as probably
gang-related.
Latin Kings
 Numbers have
Graffiti
meaning too.
Sometimes the
number stands for the
letter in the alphabet
and the location of the
gang.
 Three digit numbers,
031 or 021 identifies
the bloods.
 Two digit numbers
like 13 & 14 signify a
Hispanic gang.
 187 = kill
Graffiti
 Note that two numbers preceded by N, S, E or
W (north, south, east or west), represent
directions or the gang's territorial orientation.
 Consider that an "S" that follows N, S, E or W
typically means "side."
 "WS18" = West Side 18th Street gang, which
is based in California.
Graffiti
 Interpret graffiti with crossed out letters or
a series of numbers followed by a "K,"
which stands for kill, as a threat from a
rival gang towards the gang specified in
the graffiti.
Symbols
 Gangs can also be identified through symbols.
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Bloods – 5 point star
Crips – 6 point crown with star
Latin Kings – 5 point crown
MS-15 – Devils horn/MSXIII
Aryan Brotherhood – swastika/shamrock clover