Central American gangs are trading their greasy, dirty, filthy sexy wifebeaters and tattoos for pleated-front khakis:

Tattoos, baggy pants and tank tops are out. Smart blazers and university recruits are in. It’s an extreme makeover for Central America’s gangs. Facing harsh crackdowns by government security forces and citizen vigilante groups, they are trying to lower their profile.

The Mara 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs are known throughout Central America and the U.S. for their brazen tactics, including beheading their enemies and covering entire buildings and even their bodies with gang symbols.

So, actually, exactly like GAP employees:

Now, according to anti-gang operatives, these traditionally uneducated and aimless youth have begun recruiting high school and college students, and are expanding their criminal repertoire from minor robbery to large-scale extortion, prostitution, car theft and kidnappings.

Who’d have thought that tattooing your face with gang signs would make you more conspicuous to the police? Right, Little Crazy?:

“These days we can’t even go out onto the street, where the police look at us and we end up dead,” said Giovanni Estrada, 25, an imprisoned gang member with tattooed face who goes by the nickname of “Little Crazy.” ”That’s why we tell (new gang members) not to paint their faces.”

Poor murderous, thieving, exhorting gang members! They’ve got it tough. It’s enough to make anyone go a… little… crazy. Sigh.

Gangs ditch tattoos, go for college look [NY Daily News]