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Margate Undercover
• Violent crimes, gang activity up
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Thursday,
March 5, 2009
Cops in Margate say they’ve got more undercover cars on the road and more undercover cops in bad neighborhoods. Violent crime and gang activity is up in Margate and cops are on the prowl.
When the economy goes south, desperate people take desperate measures. Burglaries and assaults have increased in Margate but thankfully, unlike neighboring towns Pompano and others, Margate is still home-invasion free.
“Lock your doors and windows and keep a look out,” said one Margate patrol officer coming off duty.
Margate has some hot spots, say police officials, specifically the Royal Springs South neighborhood near Coral Springs. Although Royal Springs North has deployed an aggressive neighborhood crime watch which seems to be working, Royal Springs South isn’t nearly as involved, said a ranking officer on the MPD. “They really need to get their act together over there.”
More youth are identifying themselves as gang members when pulled over in their cars, say police, and when approached on the street. Gang affiliation is becoming more prevalent in dress, language, gang symbols, colors and tatoos, according to the Florida Gang Investigators Association.
Parents living near Vinson Park on 66th Avenue said their kids have mentioned seeing suspicious characters in the park, possibly selling drugs or watching girls. “They better not mess with my boy, he’ll kick ‘em right in the shins,” said one local.
Police officials say criminal activity in neighborhoods around Vinson Park has quieted down in recent months, possibly a collateral benefit to foreclosures in the area.
“When thirteen year old Zowie [not her real name] told me that a guy in a car approached her more than once when walking to school, I had to see for myself. Sure enough, we called the police,” said a nearby resident regarding an incident a few months back and adding that unfortunately Margate is home to numerous sex offenders. “I suppose they have to live somewhere.”
Count on seeing more street machines pulling cars over in Margate. Dodge Magnums and Chargers, Mustangs, new Chevys and plain looking SUVs – maybe even more bicycle cops on patrol. If you’re a woman and you’re concerned about whether it’s really a cop in the car behind you or some creep who purchased a light kit at the spy store, call 911, say women defense advocates, or have the Margate Police Department on speed dial when traveling through town.
Want to know about kids and gangs in Margate? Click on Margate Police and scroll down the left of the page to 'gangs.'
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