Police estimate five gangs have operated in S.B.
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - The 2007 Street Gang Survey released by the New Jersey State Police showed a 10 percent increase in gang activity since the last survey in 2004.

Out of 25 municipalities in Middlesex County, 17 of them, including South Brunswick, reported a gang presence.

The report said that municipalities in Mercer and Middlesex counties were more likely than others in the region to have a gang presence. An estimated 89 percent of Middlesex County residents live in a town with gang activity.

South Brunswick Police Detective Jim Ryan said that every effort is being made to halt any gang activity.

"We're very proactive," Ryan said. "We have three officers who assimilate all the information and send it to the local police."

According to the report, the Bloods, Latin Kings, Crips, MS-13 and Pagans Motorcycle Club were all found in over 50 municipalities. The Bloods were found in almost 90 percent of areas inhabited by gangs.

Ryan declined to specify which gangs were most prominent in South Brunswick.

"We don't want to attribute it to one certain gang," Ryan said. "Other gangs can get upset."

Ryan said that his mentioning a particular gang could cause violence between gangs. He did say that five gangs are known to be in South Brunswick.

"The biggest problem comes when they try to get other people to be a part of them," Ryan said of the gangs. "There may not be an immediate threat, but getting people together to assimilate and join them is the danger."