By ANNA BROWN

Union Public Safety officers are investigating several instances of vandalism caused by someone spray-painting gang graffiti on buildings, signs and other fixtures on the city’s south side.

Reports said the vandalism was discovered by Officer Angela Cogdill and Officer Mike Gregory on routine patrol Sunday.

At the office of Dr. Richard Poole on 201 West South St., someone spray-painted the side of the building and the business sign.

The symbols included “BGD,” a six-pointed star and “b74.”

First Sgt. Troy Wright said that according to information officers have received about gang symbols, “BGD” could stand for Black Gangsters Disciples. “Taggers” — gang members who spray paint — sometimes use numbers to represent letters in a type of code. The number 7 likely represents the letter “G” and the number four likely represents the letter “D.”

The six-pointed star represents the Folk Nation gang and the five-pointed star represents followers of the People Nation.

Someone also painted gang graffiti on a fence on 101 Brookside Drive, a mailbox in the 100 block of Lipsey Street, a Department of Transportation sign that has nine bullet holes in it nearby, the back of the apartments in the 300 block of Lipsey Street and the Union Housing Authority mailbox in the 200 block of Porter Street.

Last week, gang graffiti was discovered on the building at Piggly Wiggly on East Main Street. An employee reported a man standing near the back dock made gang signs at him.

Chief Sam White called the increase in vandalism over the weekend “worrisome.” He said in the past, the symbols have been painted behind buildings or on pavement and were not as visible as in the most recent cases. He said gang members “tag” with spray paint as a way to mark their territory.

Gang membership often is glamorized in movies, music and on the Internet. White said parents need to be vigilant about knowing were their children are, who they are with and what they are doing. He pointed out that most of the damage discovered Sunday had been done overnight.

“Obviously we have people rambling around who need to be at home,” he said. “If parents see gang symbols on their children’s clothes, on their books or in their rooms that should throw up a red flag. Their child might be involved in something they can’t get out of once they are in it.”

People, vehicles hit by BB gun

Friday, a 50-year-old woman told Sgt. David Brewington she was walking on West Henrietta Street between Columbus Street and Lipsey Street around 8 p.m. when she felt a sharp pain in her back. When she got home, she found blood on her back. Brewington could see a small break in he skin in the middle of her back as if she had been shot with an air rifle.

Union County EMS was called to check the victim’s injury.

She told Brewington that she had seen around 20 juveniles standing on the street and some had air guns.

About five minutes later, PSO David Lee was called to 200-A Lipsey St. a woman said her 7-year-old daughter was outside when she was shot in the ear with a BB gun.

A 16-year-old suspect was identified in the case. He said he had no gun. Lee searched the boy and didn’t find anything.

Also on Saturday, a victim on 202 B Lipsey St. told Lee that someone shot the front windshield of her Nissan with a BB gun. Damage was estimated at $200.

The cases are under investigation.