Gangs in Chicago are establishing new headquarters and operations in the city's suburbs as their traditional haunts are demolished and police crack down on gang activity in the inner city, the New York Times reported June 21.

The Chicago Crime Commission said in a new report that gangs also are getting involved in more white-collar crime and cooperating with each other to make money. In addition to traditional drug-dealing, gangs are now collaborating on money laundering, mortgage and real estate fraud, and identity theft, the report noted.

The commission's Gang Book found that 31 of 81 suburban police departments reported increased gang activity in their communities over the past three years. Contributing to the apparent dispersal is the demolition of the Chicago housing projects that previously were dominated by gang members, gentrification of former gang neighborhoods, and police crackdowns.