Urban gangs seen moving into suburbs
Link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/06/08/urban_gangs_seen_moving_into_suburbs/?page=1

Summary:
Article focuses on a gang prevention conference held in Essex County, Massachusetts. Generally the article focuses on the evolution of gangs in that area, including the proliferation of gangs into suburban areas. They are not only establishing cliques or cells in suburban areas and small hinterland towns, they use cars to travel to these areas to commit crimes such as burglary and car theft. One small town police chief suspects that many of the stolen cars in his town are stolen by gang members because they are eventually located in areas where gangs are known to be prolific.

Excerpt:
Topsfield Police Chief Daniel O'Shea agreed that gangs can be a problem for small towns. They might not be hanging on the town green, but that doesn't safeguard rural towns, he said. “Major cities certainly deal with a gang problem day in and day out," said O'Shea, who will deliver welcoming remarks at today's conference. “But what's to stop gangs from heading here from Lawrence, Lynn, Haverhill, or anywhere else?" O'Shea suspects out-of-town gangs were behind a rash of night time car break-ins and thefts in Topsfield and other small towns about six months ago. The stolen cars turned up in Lynn, a city where about 20 different gangs now operate with 600 to 800 members, officials estimate.

Analysis:
Gangs traveling to small towns to establish cliques or commit crimes is not surprising. The pattern of MS-13 has been to establish cells where ever there are Salvadorian immigrants. So, if there were a number of Central American immigrants in a smaller town, it would make sense that the gang would follow. The advent of gangs traveling out to suburbs and small towns, where there is not a gang presence, exclusively to commit crimes is a little different, and could signal a change in the mode of operation of a gang.

Generally, MS-13 stays within the Central American community and gains money through extortion, theft, etc. They mostly victimize their own community. This is probably a result of the inability of gang members to blend in to non-Hispanic enclaves. For example, 4 MS-13 gang bangers casing out houses in Beverly Hills will likely draw attention quickly. Or the reverse, a car full of skinheads driving through a Hispanic enclave would catch the eye of police. So, many of these gangs stick to areas where they know they can blend in.

A gang venturing out of it's area could signal a couple of things. In the case of MS-13, it could signal a evolving membership that is more able to blend in to typical American suburbs. It could signal an understanding that richer booty is to be had in other areas. Or, It could be an isolated incident, from which no pattern or development could be established. Making a determination as to which one it is, would require much more information.