Hoover Criminals

From GTA World

HOOVER CRIMINAL GANG

The Hoover Criminal Gang (HCG) began as an African-American street gang located in the western district of South Los Santos, San Andreas. Known as the "Hoover Groovers" in its earliest conception, this gang predates the formation of the Crips and Bloods during the late 60s and early 70s era. Their name derives from Grove Street which is situated below Carson Avenue, Davis in the heart of their territory.

It was kick started by the first Hoover Criminal set on Grove Street, which was fixated in the cul-de-sac of Grove Street and named 32 Dead End Hoover Groovers, later the 32 Dead End Hoover Crips, and eventually the 32 Dead End Hoover Criminals. While this set has long been defunct, the area has since been taken over by the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips who still refer to the cul-de-sac as "Dead End". All sets of Hoover Criminals refer to Grove Street as "Groove Street" to pay homage to their origins as a street gang.

Youthful members of the Hoover Criminals have adopted the color orange but still wear the traditional blue color associated with the Crips. Their universal hand sign is the thumb tucked in between the index and middle finger to represent the letter "H" for "Hoover". They were one of the very first gangs to challenge Stanley Tookie Williams' West Side Crips. After an incident nearly brought the two gangs at an all out war, the leaders of both the Hoovers and the West Side Crips came to an agreement and joined forces against a common enemy at the time known as the "Lowenstein Boys"; prompting the Hoovers to adopt the Crips moniker into their name by the mid 1970s.

In the August of 1979, Raymond Lee Washington was murdered in a drive-by shooting. Rumors of the shooters spread throughout the streets of Los Angeles and the blame for his death was placed squarely at the feet of the Hoover Crips by the East Side Crips, sparking a deadly war between the Hoovers and Crip gangs still friendly towards Raymond Lee Washington, who by then had become disenfranchised with the West Side Crips. By the late 1980s, the Hoovers were engaged in bitter rivalries with several different Crip sets. It was also during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s when the Hoovers became one of the most notorious street gangs to participate in the drug trade thanks in part to the efforts of Ricky “Freeway” Ross, who was affiliated with the Hoover sets; 52 Hoover Gangster Crips and 74 Hoover Criminal Gang.

By the mid 1980s, the Hoovers had become one of the most feared street gangs in South Central, Los Santos. Their brutal reputation for gun violence made them one of the first suspects to be blamed for gang-related shootings and gained them many enemies; many of whom were also Crips. Amid their ever growing list of Crip rivals, all except one set of the Hoovers eventually dropped their "Crip" affiliation and created the "Criminal" card, thus adopting the "Hoover Criminals" identity by the mid 1990s.

Rapper ScHoolboy Q is affiliated with the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips set which falls under the Hoover Criminal umbrella.

CONFLICTS

Today, active members of the Hoovers are sworn enemies of both Bloods and Crips; specifically gangs who fall under the (2x) or Neighborhood Crips card. With their roots as a Crip gang, the Hoovers have traditionally been hostile towards all Bloods, in particular the LA Denver Lane Bloods and Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Bloods. Other Blood rivals include the Family Swan Bloods, BJ Smith Park Brims, Van Ness Gangster Brims and the Fruit Town Brims. Despite their many Blood rivals, it should be noted that their war with Neighborhood Crip gangs are more bitter and intense than any Blood rivalry.

The Hoovers have also engaged in warfare with gangs who fall under the Gangster Crip card as well such as the 87 Gangster Crips, 97 Gangster Crips and the 4 Pacc Gangster Crips. These occurrences prompted The Hoovers to adopt the “ABK” or “EBK” slogans which stands for "Anybody Killer" or "Everybody Killer". In addition to their Blood and Crip rivalries, the Hoovers are also enemies of some Sureños gangs, specifically the Crazy Riders 13 and South Los 13.

Despite technically falling under the (3x) Gangster Crip card themselves, the Hoovers have also engaged in warfare with other gangs who fall under the (3x) Gangster Crip card, such as the 87 Gangster Crips, 97 Gangster Crips and the 4 Pacc Gangster Crips. Over the years, the Hoovers have developed relationships with other gangs outside of the Hoover Criminals umbrella. They were once involved in a short lived three way truce between themselves, the Innocence Family Gangster Bloods and the Eight Tray Gangster Crips that was coined the "Movin, Suwoopin & Groovin" alliance during the early to mid 2000s.

However, the volatile relationship between the Eight Tray Gangster Crips and other Hoover Criminal sets claiming "Gangster Killer" ended their partnership. Despite this, the Hoovers remained friendly towards the Innocence Family Gangster Bloods, causing friction between the IFGB and the Denver Lane Bloods; who are long time enemies of the Hoovers. Additionally, the Hoover Criminals are allies of the Insane Crips in Del Perro, known as the "Hoosane" alliance.

While incarcerated, members of the Hoovers have been known to be friendly towards different Piru sets amid their recent disenfranchisement with the Blood alliance. Being friendly towards adjacent Gangster Crip sets such as the 51 Trouble Gangster Crips, 52 Broadway Gangster Crips, 53 Avalon Gangster Crips, and the Eight Tray Gangster Crips, the 52 Hoover Gangster Crips retained their "Gangster Crip" identity making them the only Hoover set to do so.

The Hoovers are also allies of the Gardena Shotgun Crips and the 99 Mafia Crips. They were once allies of the Main Street Mafia Crips, but a shooting of a young member of the 94 Hoover Criminals Gang at a house party on Main Street Mafia Crips turf ended that relationship on a sour note.

Today, there are many different neighborhoods in conflict with the Hoovers which includes several neighborhoods from Forum Drive to Jamestown Street. Minimizing the conflict that they have with their many rivals would be very effective in curbing gun violence in South Los Santos.

Allies include;

  • 51 Trouble Gangster Crips
  • 52 Broadway Gangster Crips
  • 53 Avalon Gangster Crips
  • 71 Gangster Crips
  • 73 Gangster Crips
  • 83 Gangster Crips
  • 88 Avalan Garden Crips
  • 99 Mafia Crips
  • 118 Gangster Crips
  • By Yourself Gangster Crips
  • Harvard Gangster Crips
  • Shotgun Crips
  • Paybacc Crips
  • 78 Hard Time Hustler Crips
  • Imperial Village Crips

Rivals include;

  • Raymond Avenue Crips
  • 42 Gangster Crips
  • 43 Gangster Crips
  • 48 Gangster Crips
  • 87 Gangster Crips
  • 97 Gangster Crips
  • Pimp Town Gangster Crips
  • Budlong Gangster Crips
  • Playboy Hustler Crips
  • Menlo Neighborhood Crips
  • East Coast Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 30s Harlem Crips
  • Rollin 40s Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 50s Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 90s Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 90s West Coast Crips
  • Rollin 100s Neighborhood Crips
  • Rollin 100s Blocc Crips
  • Main Street Mafia Crips
  • Grape Street Watts Crips
  • 103 Hard Time Hustler Crips
  • 104 Hard Time Hustler Crips
  • Tongan Crip Gang
  • Denver Lane Bloods
  • Fruit Town Brims
  • Family Swan Bloods
  • Varrio Rancho 13
  • Crazy Riders 13
  • South Los 13

ACTIVE SETS

Today, active members of the Hoovers dominate eastern Davis. They can be seen wearing Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Roy-Side, and Washington Nationals attire. They are arguably the most violent street gang in Davis, next to the Chamberlain Varrio Tortilla Flats 13.

  • 32 Dead End Hoover Criminal Gang (defunct)
  • 43 Hoover Criminal Gang (defunct)
  • 52 Hoover Gangster Crips
  • 59 Hoover Criminal Gang
  • 74 Hoover Criminal Gang
  • 83 Hoover Criminal Gang
  • 92 Hoover Criminal Gang
  • 94 Hoover Criminal Gang
  • 107 Hoover Criminal Gang (inactive)
  • 112 Hoover Criminal Gang (inactive)