Comments so far on this story:

1. Edgar wrote on March 16, 2008 10:42 PM:
""For all you Carmel Valley and Del Mar residents out there, don’t flip out -- the chances of becoming a victim of gang crime are utterly minute." Then why whip up hysteria with an article like this one? Either there is a problem or there is not. Honestly, I have not heard one other report that even comes close to substantiating these claims. Do you know something that no one else -- including the police -- knows?"

2. Gene wrote on March 17, 2008 7:35 AM:
""For all you Carmel Valley and Del Mar residents out there, don’t flip out -- the chances of becoming a victim of gang crime are utterly minute. There hasn’t been a confirmed episode of gang violence or drug-dealing in the area so far this year, and Lt. Mills said the average citizen probably won’t find trouble unless they’re looking for prostitutes, guns or drugs" I agree with all Lt Mills said, but would add that gang members,as all thieves, are looking for "easy targets" as well. Such as the always occuring hot prowl burglaries that occur in the middle of the night when people leave their garage door open partially or their side door unlocked. It is popular for gangs to enter the grages, and then the homes, they steal items and the keys to the cars in the garage and drive off the cars."

3. Edgar wrote on March 17, 2008 8:48 AM:
"Gangs or no gangs, it has always been the height of foolishness to leave garages in these areas open or partially open -- even in the daytime. Imagine the surprise of the suburban housewife who steps into her garage to find a coyote, racoon, possum or rattlesnake! For crying out loud, that is not the area to do something foolish like that. Just because you've lived in your house 15 years and have never encountered a rattlesnake, doesn't mean you won't. They are there. And how many people in these areas have lost their little dog because they have a doggie door for fluffy to go into the backyard in the middle of the night?"

4. Fred wrote on March 17, 2008 9:31 AM:
"That fine early San Diegan, Wyatt Earp, lived by three rules: Shoot first, shoot fast and don't miss. Imagine the look of surprise on their faces when the target fights back. Good luck and happy hunting."

5. JR wrote on March 17, 2008 9:48 AM:
"But Ian, you forgot the important part---where do the gangs stand on Aguirre's booze ban at the beach???!"

6. Gene wrote on March 17, 2008 10:57 AM:
"Yes, Edgar, my point exactly was for the CV residents and all others to not be lax in personal safety because the Gang LT. says there has not been gang violence in CV. Key phrase is "violence".....ident theft, shoplifting rings, drug use and sales, auto theft and vehicle breakins are the result of gangs and of the drug users not associated with gangs. They are all still looking for the easy target. Dont be lax. Also to all the CV residents, call your councilman and see if he knows how many cops are working your area. You will find two or three are working with 1 Sgt. at any hour of the dayYour area covers Miramar, Sorrento valley, Torrey highlands Torrey del mar, Verrazano. Santa Luz and Del Sur. If one incident occurs, even a traffic accident, all other calls for service will wait."

7. D wrote on March 17, 2008 12:20 PM:
"I find myself wondering why the race of the attackers and attackee is not disclosed in this article. Great lengths were taken to point out that the attacker looked like a buff college student, he used a racial slur during his attack (perhaps elevating it to a hate crime), so why the secrecy on the race?"

8. Urbana wrote on March 17, 2008 1:47 PM:
"I grew up in a well-to-do S.D. suburb in the '80s, and there were thugs who came from very nice homes even back then. Sociopathic behavior knows no income level and doesn't stop at the gates at the gated community. I don't know why this should be such a surprise. It seems Ian -- despite always lampooning the NIMBYism and the CV soccer mom's "Not my little Johnny!" attitude -- kind of buys into the idea that Carmel Valley is a domestic paradise. If I had to choose between meeting up with poor, struggling urban youth over bored, angry suburban kids, I'd probably go with the inner-city kids."

9. Larry wrote on March 17, 2008 1:49 PM:
"Could Ian Port be any more out of touch? Hey dude, there's a reason why Oxycontin is called "Hillbilly Heroin" and it isn't because it's the drug of choice in your fabulously isolated merge-land. Geez, where did Voice find this guy?"

10. Del Martian wrote on March 17, 2008 3:36 PM:
"I find this article ridiculous! I read about one theft at a beach in Del Mar, and one male with an Asian name arrested last November, and suddenly we have an "ASIAN GANG" problem in Carmel Valley? ...and Officer Andy Mills says: "I’ve been in homes in the Del Sur area in Carmel Valley that are $1.2, $1.3 million homes and their kid’s a shooter for different gang sets." "A shooter?" I asked in disbelief."They shoot people," Mills responded." OK, Officer Mills and Ian Port -- exactly who is this Carmel Valley Gang Shooter, who did he shoot, and why didn't we hear about this shooting? I think the shooter comment is total BS! Because of this internet email based hysteria, every time a few Asian kids are walking to Torrey Pines, the neighbors will wonder "are they asian gang members?"."

11. Urbana wrote on March 17, 2008 4:28 PM:
"D is right. I'd like more on the description of both victim and perpetrators' races. There's no reason to be secretive about it. Most people on this site are nuanced enough thinkers not to run out and call the cops if they see someone matching the perpetrators' race(s) in their own neighborhoods."

12. CV Mom wrote on March 17, 2008 10:02 PM:
"As a long time resident of Carmel Valley, I've seen it evolve from a predominantly white area to a mixed White/Asian area, especially in the new Torrey Hills Neighborhood. The Asian residents are mostly two working parent families, working in sciences, engineering, or biotech, who speak English as a Second language. My neighbors (white) make rude jokes about how their children can't compete academically with the Asian kids at school, and for the most part, they don't socialize with the Asians. Now it looks like my neighbors are spreading rumors about Asian Gangs, when I highly doubt that the sons and daughters of these Asian scientists are gang members. Sounds like there is a little racism in our little north county paradise."

13. D wrote on March 21, 2008 11:35 PM:
"Well, CV mom, its true. You got gangs in Carmel Valley, and they're made up of Asians. Some of them are as easy as any other gangmember to spot, but others are hard to point out. Why? Culture. You have many violent criminals, some even murderers, who live with their scientist mom and dad, treat them with respect, and get straight A's."

14. Joe wrote on April 10, 2008 7:10 AM:
"Did they ever catch the murderer who executed the girl with a shot to the back of the head in the complex across from Ralphs ( I think it was '06 0r '07)? Also did they ever catch the thug who car jacked a woman in Ralphs parking lot about 4 years ago? Wondering if they are still open cases."

15. Jack wrote on May 10, 2008 2:15 AM:
"Port writes, "Call me naive, but the woman�s description of her attacker ("a college-age student that worked out") didn�t bring to mind your typical thug. Who needs to mug someone when you�ve got your parent�s credit card and/or an engineering degree?" Could Port be any more out-of-touch in this article? Criminals will assault, rob, and kill people for any reason -- or no reason at all. A parent's "credit card," or their "degree"? If California's three-strikes law, or the death penalty, don't stop criminals, what in the hell makes you think their having a degree, or access to a credit card, will have any impact at all on a person who wants to steal or injure others. Examples of wanton harm and senseless killing abound."