Membership | 100,000 around the united states |
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Criminal activities | Battery, racketeering, murder, extortion, and drug trafficking. |
Allies | People Nation, Ñetas, Bloods, Vice Lords, Nortenos, Ñetas, Almighty Latin King Nation |
Rivals | Folk Nation, Crips, Gangster Disciples, DDP, Trinitarios, Black Disciples, Surenos, MS-13, Aryan Brotherhood, Los Zetas |
Vatos Locos (in English, Crazy Dudes) is a street gang. Gangs using this name are active in several American states. The Vatos Locos originated in East LA but have extended their presence to Florida, Fort Pierce, Florida. They are mainly active in Fort Pierce's South 18th Street area by Delaware and around South 33rd Street and Orange Avenue. They represent their gang affiliation with black bandanas worn in the back right pocket of their pants. Their graffiti consists of "Vatos Locos," the Lowrider logo, or Lil Rob. These images are also present in gang tattoos. Vatos Locos are mainly Hispanics or Chicanos. Their dress consists of black shirts and khaki pants or shorts, and jewelry of chains or crosses. Most are supporters of the Oakland Raiders football team and show this by wearing similar colors.
Their biggest rival are South Side Locos (or Sur 13) and they are often called by them as Sur Ratas (Southern Rats). Among their biggest rivals are Trinitario, MS-13, Aryan Brotherhood, and Los Zetas. Their allies are People Nation, Sinaloa Cartel, Bloods, Norteños, Ñetas, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings
So far, Vatos Locos has established itself in Gran Canaria and multiple US states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Arizona and Indiana etc.). They have shown a new presence in Ontario, Canada Bern, Switzerland and South Africa. Vatos Locos has also been seen in Gommiswald SG, Switzerland including Albanian Gang-Members
The film Blood In Blood Out (1993) about the life of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca in 1972, was based on the experiences of gang members of Vatos Locos.
The video game Call of Juarez: The Cartel features a fictional Vatos Locos gang.