YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio  - 21 News was on the city's east side Monday as more than 30 members of the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force, and special agents from the Cleveland Office hit the streets.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach even came along for the ride and says that the federal government is committed to the Violence Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program, or V-GRIP. The FBI says the cooperative effort with local police and the State Patrol helps them take guns off the streets, and on this particular night they're focused on street gangs who are increasingly wearing bullet proof vests and increasing their firepower.

Supervisory Special Agent of the Youngstown FBI, Jon Holloway says, "Because these gang members are being shot at or shooting each otehr with pistol caliber rounds.  They want something to stop a hangun not a lot of time these people are carrying rifles because a rifle will penetrate some armour."

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Pete Bickmore of the Cleveland Headquarters of the FBI says, "We're out here and we're trying to make a difference in the community and the city, the surrounding areas.  We're working together as a team, the task force concept, and we're trying to get guns and gang members off the streets."

The FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office say they're here for the long haul in fighting Youngstown's war on crime and concerned citizens are among their most valuable assets.