gang activity in West Pasco (Tampa, Hollywood: crime, motels, neighborhood)

[willowthree]

I recently heard from a friend that there are many gangs in West Pasco, Florida. This really disturbed me as I have nieces and nephews that reside there. Can anyone tell me if they have any knowledge or personal experience with this?

[DailyJournalist]

Here is a list of Florida gangs and their locations:

Florida Gangs -- Gangs and Security Threat Group Awareness

[Floridaobserver]

I've never seen that Website. Thanks - Unfortunately, gangs are everywhere. I don't think you can get away from them. I've heard of some in Eastern Hillsborough County that aren't listed on the site.

[rich67]

West Pasco has NUMEROUS juvenile gangs. The Valentine Bloods, the West Pasco Crazy Crips, just to name a few. These "gangs" are simply juveniles trying to emulate what they see on TV; they really are just some white punk kids who try to act like they are in some rap video. The problem is, we are also seeing Latin Kings in the area, and those guys don't play. It is getting bad here, but it is nowhere NEAR what it was like in Southern California (I lived there for 25 years). The gang activity is still pretty tame, but there are some gang related crimes springing up here from time to time. The sheriff's department in Pasco is severely understaffed, and they have no clue how to deal with the issue, so all the drug sellers are coming into the county because they feel they can get away with crime due to the poor police presence and enforcement. Ask your relatives about how many times they see a cruiser in their neighborhood, let alone in their daily travels. I'd bet they never see one. The sheriff there is running that county into the ground and all the deputies are leaving to go to Tampa or Pinellas.
I have seen crime here skyrocket in the past 5 years.

[willowthree]

Hi,

thanks for the responses. I was actually at Hollywood 18 the other day (still light out) which is one of the places I was told to stay away from, and it seemed pretty safe. There were families with young kids attending. I guess it must be on Friday nights that it's not safe. What about Gulfview Square Mall? I guess the same applies. Safe during daytime hours, not so much at night.

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by willowthree

Hi,

thanks for the responses. I was actually at Hollywood 18 the other day (still light out) which is one of the places I was told to stay away from, and it seemed pretty safe. There were families with young kids attending. I guess it must be on Friday nights that it's not safe. What about Gulfview Square Mall? I guess the same applies. Safe during daytime hours, not so much at night.

I take my 12 year old daughter and her friend to Gulfview and they run off and do thier thing.
I never have any fear that there will be a problem.

[rich67]

Gulfview is not too bad. Hollywood 18 is packed with kids on Friday and Saturday nights, but they ususally hire off duty police officers to work security there to keep the problems to a minimum; I think it works pretty well. I prefer to go to Citrus Park or Palm Harbor Muvico, they are usually not too bad either. Gulfview has some little punks that go there, but that's typical mall activity. Haven't been any shootings there or anything majorly gang related.

[Jesslyn848]

I find it hard to believe that there is much gang activity going on at either Hollywood 18 or Gulfview Square Mall. I avoid both places (not because I feel unsafe, I just find them scuzzy) but every movie theatre/mall in the area is littered with young "punks" on Friday and Saturday evenings. (I am saying this as a 23 year old no less) Hence, on the rare occassion I venture to a movie theatre, it's on a Sunday afternoon. The only area I really would feel unsafe in W Pasco is the string of seedy motels near the NPR/PR bridge, along HWY 19, and in some areas of Moon Lake. Holiday too, has some questionable areas, but I don't believe the danger is to the degree that some have made it out to be. I've found that in most circumstances, if you don't go out looking for trouble, it doesn't seem to find you!

[Mike1306]

Well I am going to a midnight show of "The Dark Knight" tonight but you all have me so scared I am going in Hernando County and not Pasco.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by Jesslyn848

I find it hard to believe that there is much gang activity going on at either Hollywood 18 or Gulfview Square Mall. I avoid both places (not because I feel unsafe, I just find them scuzzy) but every movie theatre/mall in the area is littered with young "punks" on Friday and Saturday evenings. (I am saying this as a 23 year old no less) Hence, on the rare occassion I venture to a movie theatre, it's on a Sunday afternoon. The only area I really would feel unsafe in W Pasco is the string of seedy motels near the NPR/PR bridge, along HWY 19, and in some areas of Moon Lake. Holiday too, has some questionable areas, but I don't believe the danger is to the degree that some have made it out to be. I've found that in most circumstances, if you don't go out looking for trouble, it doesn't seem to find you!

With you on all that. Moon Lake- the only reason you'd go in there is to buy meth or crack. Holiday Lakes Estates is bad, agreed with the NPR/PR bridge area (prostitution), and another bad area is US 19 and Bonita/Mile Stretch and one block south. More dope and prostitution. The gangs are in Moon Lake and some northern areas of Hudson. Most of them don't bother or have the transportation to leave their little microcosm of a world.