Representatives from the High Point Police Department are available to speak at community events and parents about gangs.
HIGH POINT- During a briefing to the High Point City Council on Tuesday, Maj. Marty Sumner with the High Point Police Department told officials about the brutal beating and robbery of a 76-year-old man.
Three teens were charged in the crime.
"It was two 15-year olds, and a 16-year old. One was a female, two males,” described Sumner. “During the interviews, there was no plan, they were walking down the street and one of them says to the other, ‘Hey, let's steal that old man's car.'"
During a briefing to the High Point City Council on Tuesday, Maj. Marty Sumner with the High Point Police Department told officials about the brutal beating and robbery of a 76-year-old man.
That's just one example of the gang problems in High Point.
Sumner says police are seeing an increase in gang-related robberies and gangs recruiting younger members. During Tuesday's briefing he outlined the police department’s gang strategy to the council -- including plans for a graffiti ordinance.
"One of the things we don't have in High Point is a graffiti city ordinance,” he said. “That would allow us to get these sites cleaned up very quickly. Obviously the longer it stays the more tagging gets added to it and you don't want to allow these groups to mark territory."
Sumner also talked about a strong message police sent to gangs in May.
"The message is we're not going to tolerate violence, any violence committed by any member of the group, we will focus our attention on the entire group... The price will be high."
He says since then they have seen a decline in robberies. High Point Mayor Rebecca Smothers says she is glad an effort is being made.
"I have a high confidence level that our police department is working diligently on some of the problems associated with what we see is the fallout from gangs," she said.
Sumner says parents need to do their part by getting involved in their child's lives.
"You need to know who they hang around, and you need to know their parents, and you need to know where your child goes and stays when they're not supervised by you to this other parent’s house. Are they home? But pay attention."
Representatives from the High Point Police Department are available to speak at community events and parents about gangs.