Gangs on Catalina Island

[300bar]

Thanks for the warning Dave,

But this cult has become pandemic,we have them over here as well.

 

[Clammy]

Even if there's not really a gang in Avalon but a number of people that are causing problems such as theft, this makes me a little nervous. Us divers at Avalon tend to leave everything out for hours and hours on end at Casino point. Fortunately, there are so many divers that know each other that we can police each others stuff especially with groups always up in surface intervals. We can leave our things out and walk over to town for a quick bite to eat and not worry.

However, on the 4th, there were maybe a max of 20 divers out throughout the day. It was extremely empty. For the first time, I was a little hesitant about leaving my gear while I went to go eat. If we have to worry about locking up our gear every time we go eat or even go dive, that's a huge inconvenience at the point!


I'm actually more concerned about the drunken morons that come out at night. A few months ago, I was at the Galleon with a full house and these kids heckled people that came out walking back to their hotels because they sang. They looked underage to be drinking but they were all hanging around the club there.

 

[SnakeRiverPirate]

Avalon impressed me as being a funky little town. My wife and I are talking about spending more time there.

 

[goldenbear01]

Yes Virginia, there are gangs on Catalina.
Their behavior may seem strange to some but it all has some purpose say gang experts. The gangs tend to congregate on a small spit of land just out of sight from Avalon behind the Casino. They all seem to dress in the same bizarre black neoprene with silvery tanks strapped to their backs and strange long flat shoes. Some gang experts suggest this must indicate they may have some strange sexual connotation to their appearance while others suggest the tanks are disguising a “huffing” habit that is only satisfied by inhaling huge quantities of this voodoo gas.

They all are forced to endure some sort of baptismal ceremony where small groups are sent down a strange set of stairs that leads directly into the open sea. Some seem competent and secure while others are obviously nervous and hesitant. Eventually everyone is required to take a turn under the sea where other bizarre rituals and tests must take place.

Upon completion of the rituals, the gangs change into normal street clothes in an effort to mask their true reason for the visit. However, most seem to drag a large black bag or case that officials have learned to spot. Officer H. Eavy Badge, also warns that once a year around February, huge numbers of the black clad huffing cult, swarm Avalon Harbor, retrieving many of the artifacts and idols sent to the bottom in previous ceremonies. Vacationers are advised not to visit the island during this bizarre weekend.

hmm...sounds like there may be something to this gang...how do i get admitted as a member? i'm asking purely for "infiltration" purposes of course. h34r:

 

[JustinW]

If you think the gangs in Catalina are bad you should see the gangs they have in the Farralons! They tag everything, steal stuff if they can, harass visitors, its just terrible.

 

[drbill]

Sorry, I haven't been able to post most of the day. I've been fending off the gangsters with the only weapon I have, a Riffe! The "gangsters" are much easier to hit than white sea bass. Anyone know what the daily limit is on them? I didn't see anything posted on the CDF&G web site so maybe there isn't one.

Actually, I came home one night from karaoke and started walking up my stairs past the elevator door. There were two young kids, high school age probably, who were necking by the elevator. I told them it was private property and the guy started to lunge for me. Good thing his GF had a cooler head and restrained him. I think I could have blown him over with one exhalation.

My housemate Iris did take the dog out one night at 2:00 am. She was jumped and mugged right on our parking area. Although Avalon is pretty darned safe, there has been an apparent increase in crime here.

 

[Ted S]

Bill, that's two unfortunate stories to hear and not a good scene in the least.

After many visits to the Island I'd say you'll definitely notice the youth presence in the evenings which could be associated or taken as “gangs”, but I’m not sure they are or aren’t… Who knows. That said, there's enough cops in a small enough area that I've never worried about what the groups really were up to... I don't see them wanting to impact me or any other tourist.

As far as the dive areas, I've yet to see those impacted by any "gang pressance" but I can definitely see why some would worry, especially on a slow day where the park is empty -- not about gangs but about theft in general -- but that's a whole other discussion.

 

[mike_s]

My housemate Iris did take the dog out one night at 2:00 am. She was jumped and mugged right on our parking area. Although Avalon is pretty darned safe, there has been an apparent increase in crime here.

according to the 2000 census, there were about 3700 residents on Catalina.

I find it hard to believe that law enforcement doesn't know exactly who is involved with this in a community this small.


Just like I don't believe that the police on Bonaire don't know who's committing all the crime there...

 

[drbill]

They have been keeping their eyes on the ones who have been identified, and some activities that peaked a few months ago are now on the decline because they have. Anyone who has dealt with real gangbangers would probably laugh at that label being applied to our local kids (although there are some bad apples that need a healthy dose of corporal punishment).

By the way, the census probably under estimates the actual resident population here. Due to the difficulty of finding year-round housing, there are families that "time share" individual apartments and even a number who camp out in the hills. Most of these are of Mexican origin and may not wish to alert the census takers to their existence out of fear. Of course without them the economy might fall apart.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Catalina gangstas