Firm Library

Criminal Law

• Crime Rates Affected by Immigrants, Population, Gangs

Crime Rates Affected by Immigrants, Population, Gangs

In the rolling hills of Northern Virginia, it’s hard sometimes to imagine crime. When cows, fields, and foggy copses fill the space between small towns, and even the larger cities maintain a small-town atmosphere, the world of guns, stick-ups, and robberies seems far away.

Despite the relative seclusion, crime is making its way to Northern Virginia. In the early part of the century, several gangs surfaced, leaving behind graffiti and other marks that were mistaken at first for random acts of vandalism. One girl, who had been relocated to the valley area for protection, was found murdered. Her death was eventually connected with a group known as the Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. Police hypothesized that the gangs, which seemed to be Latino based, were following the growth of drug use in small towns. Groups of farmers banded together to fight their growing influence and to maintain the peace of their rural life.

Despite attempts to stop the influx—including an FBI taskforce and community-aimed efforts that educate youth to respect their community and to make wise choices about their future—the MS-13’s influence has been felt even more deeply as the years go on. Several people have been brutally murdered in the Northern Virginia area alone, but the gang’s influence reaches throughout over half of the country’s states. As stated in a Newsweek article, “It’s considered the fastest-growing, most violent and least understood of the nation’s street gangs.”

But the influence of crime isn’t caused only by gangs. Shootings, burglaries, robberies, and drug use have plagued the area. The crimes in the area are relatively petty, limited primarily to burglaries and robberies as opposed to violent crime. According to a report about Alexandria, all types of crime have decreased in number since 2005 except murder.

Crime is crime, nonetheless, and it’s certainly more pronounced than it was ten or even five years ago. And crime can be expensive for the victims, causing monetary loss and loss of confidence in their home. Especially in an area proud of its rural heritage and its peaceful lifestyle, a little crime can go a long way towards shaking one’s peace of mind. If you are affected by the crime in Northern Virginia, please contact Thomas Robl at 703-777-6787 to help restore your confidence in choosing a good place to live.

Contact Us Today