The following local photographs represent Santa Cruz Sureño gangs:

• Brown Pride Santa Cruz (BPSC)

• Beach Flats Sureños (BFS)

• Santa East Side (SES)

• Villa San Carlos (VSC)

• Mara Salvatrucha (MS)

SANTA CRUZ SUREÑO CLOTHING

DISCLAIMER: The items shown here are popular among youth. Many non-gang members also wear these particular clothes and accessories. Simply wearing these clothes does not necessarily indicate gang involvement. However, the clothing represented here is also worn by local gang members (and those imitating gang members).

These images are shown here in the spirit of prevention and intervention. They are meant to be a tool for parents and educators. Again, simply wearing these items does not mean a youth is gang-involved. As parents and educators we should look for other causes for concern. Other Causes for Concern: Wearing many of the items shown here. Refusing to wear red. Wearing items shown here, as well as graffiti or tagging on

notebooks, using hand-signs, changes in behavior or other signs of potential involvement

Please also note that clothing trends are constantly changing. We will update this website as often as possible to reflect those changes.

The LA Dodgers baseball hat is commonly worn by Sureño criminal street gang members because of the color blue.

Depicted in the photograph above is a Kansas City baseball cap in solid blue that signifies “Kill a Chico” which is referenced to the West Side Chicos, a Norteño gang in Santa Cruz.

Baseball Hats

The writings include X3 which stands for the number 13, “VSC” which stands for Villa San Carlos (a local Santa Cruz Sureño gang), and the 3 dots with two lines beneath them which is the number 13 in the Mayan numerical system.

Depicted in the photograph below is a baseball cap with Sureño writing on the inside.

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Depicted in the photograph above is a brown hooded zip up sweatshirt with the brand-name “Dickies” written in white and outlined in blue. At first glance the sweatshirt would seem main-stream and to not have gang value, but to someone involved with the gang culture it speaks volumes about the person wearing it.

The local Santa Cruz Sureño criminal street gang known as Brown Pride Santa Cruz (BPSC) will wear the color brown

in addition to the color blue.

The South Pole brand is very popular among youth in general

but is also used by Sureños to express their gang affiliation.

More examples of South Pole clothing.

Depicted in the two photographs above are South Pole t-shirts that are commonly worn by Sureño criminal street gang members, associates and their affiliates. They are more specifically worn by Brown Pride Santa Cruz (BPSC).

Looking at the photograph below you can note the lack of red clothing and the variety of blue or brown clothing. The Sureño gangs use the color blue or brown to show their affiliation.

Depicted in the photograph is a young man wearing a blue baseball cap with a long white t-shirt and baggy pants.

Aside from the hand sign and blue hat one can see the oversized shirt and pants. Many times those who associate themselves with the gang culture or life will often wear oversized clothing. The oversized clothing can be a means of concealing weapons, contraband or narcotics as well as simply being a popular style.

Today we find that most of the youth that participate in the gang culture will often use

subtle ways of identifying themselves with their respective

gangs.

The clothing and accessories shown here are meant to be used as a tool for parents, educators and community members to identify youth who may be showing signs of gang involvement.

It should be noted that these items are often adopted by mainstream youth who may not be involved. Parents and educators should be concerned if they see a predominance of the one color or style of dress as shown here, together with other signs of involvement.

For more information: www.basta.santacruz.k12.ca.us

Email: basta@santacruz.k12.ca.us