Nashville is booming now—in the center of a bright and positive national spotlight that is very well-deserved—but what does the sudden uptick in population, tourism, and attention mean for our crime rates, if anything? The good news is: overall crime is down in Music City. In comparison with 2012, 2013 posed fewer threats to our community.
Those of us at Unlimited Security, one of Nashville’s most respected residential and commercial security companies, are always very relieved to see a dip in crime rates. We want to remind you, however, to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times.
The Facts About Nashville Crime Rates in 2013
All of the following data is from the Metro Nashville Police Department and their MNPD Form 100s (Incident Reports) and MNPD Form 104s (Supplement Reports) –http://www.nashville.gov/Police-Department/News-and-Reports/Crime-Statistics.aspx.
- In 2013, there were 40 murders and non-negligent homicides in the city, as compared to 62 in 2012. That’s a 35% decrease.
- Rapes were also down slightly, with 507 rapes by force and attempts to commit forcible rape reported in 2013 as opposed to 520 in 2012.
- Robbery (-5%), burglary (-1%), larceny/theft (-6%), motor vehicle theft (-13%), and aggravated assault (-11%) are down as well.
- All in all, crime rates decreased in 2013 by 6%, while violent crimes dropped by 9%.
Tennessee Crime Rates Overall
In spite of these decreases in Nashville, our state overall has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. In fact, a report by Wall Street 24/7 lists Tennessee as the most dangerous state in the nation, having looked at violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Memphis’ violent crime rate is fifth in the nation, while Nashville’s ranks 18th.
In reaction to the Wall Street 24/7 report, Vanderbilt sociologist Dr. Laurie Woods told News 2 earlier last year, “My first reaction was, ‘here we go again, someone trying to make sense of numbers.’ They are basing the information we have on statistics that we know, not on crimes that do not get reported. … Now granted, most murders get reported, but you are more likely to get killed by someone you know, not a stranger.”
To help protect yourself from being a victim of crime in Nashville, we encourage you to read our Personal Safety Tips here. And of course Unlimited Security is always available to speak with you over the phone or in person about how you can make your Nashville residence safer to achieve the peace of mind you need to rest easy at night or when you’re away during the day.