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Gang Activity
updated: Sep 13, 2012, 4:30 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Can anyone tell me where the highest concentration of gangs/gang activity/gang crimes are in town? I'm looking for a place to live and sometimes I'm not sure about certain neighborhoods. Thank you!

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 319530	2012-09-13 04:35 PM
Move to Goleta.
COMMENT 319531	2012-09-13 04:39 PM
State Street.
COMMENT 319532	2012-09-13 04:44 PM
East side, West side, state st, lower riviera
COMMENT 319536	2012-09-13 04:48 PM
East Side.
COMMENT 319537	2012-09-13 04:52 PM
county jail followed by the lower east side
COMMENT 319539	2012-09-13 04:55 PM
Stay far from Milpas Street, and the west side between the mesa & the freeway.
COMMENT 319541	2012-09-13 04:56 PM
Lower Riviera? Is that some kind of bad joke? Or are you (wink, wink) trying to keep certain people out of certain neighborhoods? I will agree with you, simply because---who knows---maybe some of those little bas*%!@s read Edhat news. I'm not going to say they're NOT in my 'hood. They might see it as a challenge. @530. Yeah. Like they're not banging in Goleta.
COMMENT 319542	2012-09-13 04:56 PM
Anywhere in the city between 0 to 50 ft. above sea level.
COMMENT 319543	2012-09-13 04:57 PM
Don't be afraid! Lets all move to the center of the gang activity and take the friggin streets back!
COMMENT 319548	2012-09-13 05:00 PM
Santa Barbara is unsafe from gangs. There are gangsters on every street corner. You would be better off moving to the boonies and creating an armored complex.
COMMENT 319549	2012-09-13 05:02 PM
Anywhere within 5 blocks on either side of San Andreas St. Anywhere from Mason St to the 101. Anywhere from Hollister Ave in Goleta from Toyota of Santa Barbara to Fairview between Hollister and the 101.
COMMENT 319551	2012-09-13 05:04 PM
544 2012-09-13 04:58 PM "Happily, only a few areas."... and then you go on to say Happy Happy Hour! Light sarcasm in and out with factual support in between. Well done!
COMMENT 319561	2012-09-13 05:21 PM
In regards to comment 549, I have lived in Old Town Goleta (near Fairview/Hollister) for 15 years and have not experienced any gang activity directed towards me or my family- meaning I have not felt scared, no thefts, etc.. Fence was tagged a few years ago-and the neighborhood is loud with lots of cars zooming up and down-with stereos thumping- but the worst part of this neighborhood is the niteclub which draws in late night drunken crowds from somewhere else. Last weekend there was a fight which apparently involved a female being punched. We would be very happy if the niteclub wasn't there. Their presence does not help bring up the block.
COMMENT 319567	2012-09-13 05:35 PM
A couple years ago I would say the east side (lower east side, not the Riviera) but over the last year it seems like the west side to me now (lower west side--not the Mesa).
COMMENT 319568	2012-09-13 05:35 PM
Lower Westside and Lower Eastside, State St.. Safe areas: Mesa, Upper East, Mission Canyon, Riviera, Montecito, San Roque, Samarkand, Noleta, most of Goleta except Kellogg Ave (G-13) and Rhoads Ave (Rock Creek) Please avoid anywhere around Milpas, Salinas, E. Montecito, San Pascual, San Andres Streets. When gang members ask you "what you claimin?", don't look them in the eye and respond "third planet from the sun." That response will stump them for a minute, allowing you to flee.
COMMENT 319570	2012-09-13 05:41 PM
There are areas off Milpas that aren't that safe, especially near Franklin School unfortunately. The Westside has pockets that aren't that great, specifically San Pascual between Micheltorena and Coronel St but San Andreas is actually not bad, it's too highly traveled to be very dangerous. In Goleta off Between Hollister and the freeway in the area between Fairview & Warm Memorial is really sketchy but again, there are little pockets that aren't as bad. There are lots of nice streets & areas on the Westside, only a few that are truly bad. Marty Blum lives on Chino!
COMMENT 319571	2012-09-13 05:45 PM
I finished the citizens police class and the gangs are in Santa Barbara . There are lots of neighborhood watch groups here in Goleta and we meet with the sheriff. So we can help each other protect our homes and cars.Look for the tatoos of the number 19 and the hats have usually 2 letters on the front. I am soo lucky to be here in Goleta by the stow house.
COMMENT 319572	2012-09-13 05:54 PM
This is where vigilance comes in. I have SB dispatch in my address book and call in suspicious anything. If you see tagging in progress call Dispatch (not 911 as they are based all over the county). Gang units are pretty quick to respond and show up in force. If the bangers think it's hidden and out of the way on my block, they are sorely mistaken. I have arrests, probations, and deportations to that end.
COMMENT 319573	2012-09-13 05:57 PM
@570 You mean Mayor Helene Schneider. Blum lives on the Mesa.
COMMENT 319583	2012-09-13 06:18 PM
Incognegro here, reporting from within 5 blocks of San Andres. That's right, San Andres, not Andreas, wherever that is. Haven't had any trouble in the last year other than noticing the occasional tagging and raised-voice altercation. In fact, my white neighbors are the bigger Summer's Eve bags.
COMMENT 319592	2012-09-13 06:44 PM
I'd say Montecito and Hope Ranch are your best bets for low crime areas in Santa Barbara. In Goleta the Mountain View area is probably safest. These are the most expensive areas too.
COMMENT 319594	2012-09-13 06:54 PM
west side, east side, Goleta, downtown move to Montecito or Hope ranch or mission canyon if you don't want gangs other wise enjoy they are here and not going away
COMMENT 319598	2012-09-13 07:04 PM
We don't have a problem anywhere! Police Chief Cam Sanchez
COMMENT 319605P	2012-09-13 07:17 PM
You can get Police reports and stats about crime in each area of the City. Talk with the Cops. I live on the Westside, on San Andres and a Cop told me that I should move out immediately. That most of the crimes are not made public. Seems like the further away you get from the freeway, the crime goes down.
COMMENT 319610	2012-09-13 07:32 PM
605P: NO cop told you that you should move out of your home immediately!! Lies!! No cop would ever say that. It would be admitting defeat, that they have no control over the city. That's bogus, i'm sure. NO cop would EVER say that to a citizen.
COMMENT 319611	2012-09-13 07:33 PM
Old Town Goleta should just be bulldozed. It would just be easier to start over there.
SMILODON	2012-09-13 08:02 PM
El Encanto Heights G--13 San Andres is tame except for Anglo drunk kids next door.
COMMENT 319629	2012-09-13 08:02 PM
There are more bank robbers living in the Riviera than anywhere else. :)
COMMENT 319631	2012-09-13 08:03 PM
I blame the slumlords and the amount of rental property we have in this area. It's ridiculous. I don't think Idaho has any gangs.
COMMENT 319639	2012-09-13 08:32 PM
All the hard data you need can be accessed via the internet! Go to the City of Santa Barbara's website (I can't post links but I'm sure you can find it). Use the menu to go to the police department page. You will be at: Home> Government> City Departments> Police Click on the link "Neighborhood Crime Activity" You will now see many links with useful information. One is a compilation of all crimes reported by the City to the FBI's crime database. Another useful link takes you to "spotify dot com". Here, you can see a history of geo-crime data. Pick a time interval (e.g. Jan 1 2011 to Jan 1 2012), refresh the map, and you will see icons showing crime locations on Google Maps. There are different icons to represent arson, assault, theft, robbery, burglary, arson, vandalism, etc. You're welcome :)
COMMENT 319654P	2012-09-13 08:59 PM
Watch your finances for the gangs of white collar criminals too.
COMMENT 319655	2012-09-13 09:00 PM
I think 319549 is the most accurate. I'd add El Encanto Heights in Goleta and the apartments/condos on Turnpike Rd. near the 101.
COMMENT 319663	2012-09-13 09:57 PM
Get a map of the affordable housing/section 8 for the city of sb, county, and city of goleta...that will tell you a lot...
LOTUSEATER	2012-09-14 06:59 AM
Love the "incog-negro" reference and report!! Haven't heard that name since the 80's!! ( I think back in the early eighties there was a small jewelry heist downtown and the only black people in town they could pin it on we're the visiting Harlem Globetrotters basketball show! If I remember, it went all the way to court and the judge threw it out saying it was "a reasonable mistake" by the arresting occifers...classic SB!
COMMENT 319682P	2012-09-14 07:01 AM
Puleeze folks! My family have lived on the 'lower Eastside'(between Milpas and the Rivera, known as the County Bowl area) for three generations and have NEVER locked our doors with NO problems. Fears are often over-blown and a result of racism. I love the mix of cultures and find people are always people. If you choose to live with that kind of fear then you probably should live in a gated area, not in a real community. My advice is to get to know your neighbors and become part of the community you live in!
COMMENT 319689	2012-09-14 07:18 AM
you're just asking for trouble not to lock your doors and windows at night. That's simply the world we live in. It's not worth the risk. There are a lot of break in's on first floor places because someone simply had the window cracked. 682P... an honest question... since you never lock your doors.... are you sure that none of your family is an involved member? Maybe that's why you haven't had any problems?
COMMENT 319695P	2012-09-14 07:30 AM
Sadly, the "gang like" youths are multiplying rapidly... its an ugly out of hand situation in Santa Barbara. Glorify it and its a "style", a sought after thrill for these kids.
COMMENT 319702	2012-09-14 07:37 AM
El Encanto Heights.... Yeah... Right. That's dangerous territory there! I lived there for 23 years. Worst thing that ever happened was we had some video games stolen in the early 90s. And it was one of our own friends that did it. I saw more women and children running around at night then I ever saw any SCARY DARK-COLORED PEOPLE. You guys have to be joking. I was friends with a G13er. Worst thing they did was tag the schools and smoke pot in the creek. He did get stabbed once... When he went to house party in the WEST SIDE. Mexican population does not equal scary gang activity. Get a grip.
COMMENT 319712	2012-09-14 07:50 AM
The comment on how to respond to "What you claimin?'" gave me a belly laugh-hilarious. Thanks.
COMMENT 319713P	2012-09-14 07:51 AM
Eastside bangers come over here to the Westside and bang Westside bangers to over to Eastside and bang. They mainly bang each other but I wouldn't want to get caught in the crossbanging. I HAVE had police tell me Samarkand is the safest area to live in, as the streets are confusing to burglars and its a hard area to escape from in a hurry. BTW, never lock doors and live on Westside near San Andres but I have seen the neighborhood go downhill as the economy does. I say hi to the most sullen looking people, they ALWAYS light up and smile.
COMMENT 319728	2012-09-14 08:12 AM
Tracy 314 gets the WIN...!!!!!
COMMENT 319737	2012-09-14 08:28 AM
Let's face it - WE LIVE IN HELL.
COMMENT 319766	2012-09-14 09:05 AM
737, haha, good perspective. we have it really good here :-)
COMMENT 319788	2012-09-14 09:24 AM
542 Shoots, SCORES!
COMMENT 319899P	2012-09-14 11:43 AM
Right, likely there are few dark-skinned people gangs in Idaho. OTOH, you've got the gangs that proliferate where you have a dispersed, rural population: white supremacists, survivalists, people who think we should stockpile attack weapons before the 2nd amendment is overturned, those who declare US currency fraudulent and therefore they are unbound by any debts they contracted in US currency... you know, fun folks like that.
ROGER DODGER	2012-09-16 06:56 AM
In City Hall..
COMMENT 334106	2012-10-22 01:50 AM
Not safe: el encanto Heights ( by DP) and old town Goleta= G13 the most active gang...

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