In a recent crackdown against gang-related activities in San José, the San José Police Department's (SJPD) Gang Investigations Unit has taken a juvenile into custody. Reported by SJPD, the young individual, who is 17 years of age and whose identity remains protected due to his age, was arrested last Saturday for his alleged involvement in a spate of vandalism tagged with the signature "GIZMO."
According to investigations that began on April 7, detailed in an SJPD news release, the vandalism string stretched from April 4 to April 22. Multiple reports came in through the San José 3-1-1 app and during community meetings, and the detectives managed to link the graffiti to gang activity. Having been caught, the suspect now faces the justice system's workings.
SJPD Chief of Police Paul Joseph expressed his department's commitment to community safety. "Once again our Gang Investigations Unit has shown that proactive police work, combined with community partnerships, can take down vandals who incite fear in our neighborhoods," he said, per the San José Police Department. "Our residents deserve to live in safe and clean communities, not ones shadowed by threats of gang violence."
In tandem with policing efforts, the Mayor of San José, Matt Mahan, also recognized the negative impact of vandalism on the community. Taken from a statement to restore order, Mahan said, per SJPD news, "Our community will now be cleaner and one of our misguided youth will have the opportunity to make better choices."
