Many of the younger gang members are not aware of the realities of the violence associated with gang membership or the finality of death. Parents should look for changes in the behavior patterns of their children. Such changes include truancy, a decline in grades, changes in friends and attitude, late hours, graffiti in their bedrooms or in their school notebooks, the wearing of colors, and other indications of gang involvement. Gangs frequently gather in dark areas to avoid being seen. In these locations they will often drink, use drugs, and deface property with graffiti.
Graffiti targets a neighborhood for deadly violence.
Whenever possible, such areas should be kept well lighted. Outside floodlights mounted out of reach with wire covers to prevent intentional bulb breakage discourage gang loitering. In addition, graffiti should be quickly removed. The longer it remains, the more it attracts gang members. Each year there are several thousand gang crimes in the Los Angeles County area.