NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It's becoming more and more common for Nashville residents to get the unwelcome surprise of finding their car windows smashed or, in some cases, their vehicle missing altogether.
Just last month, Antioch residents noticed a huge spike in auto thefts, with the latest preliminary data from the Metro Nashville Police Department showing a 94.6% increase in thefts within the police precinct that encompasses those neighborhoods.
“Across all my Facebook groups and communities, there have been cars that are broken into,” District 32 Metro Councilmember Joy Styles said in an interview regarding the thefts. “Sometimes the doors are unlocked and sometimes they break into cars to take items.”
While the increase has been noticeable for many residents, historical data shows just how much car thefts have risen over the years. Based on those records from the police department, the number of auto thefts in Nashville last year was the highest there's been since 1998.
By the end of 2023, there were nearly 5,738 car thefts reported in Nashville and Davidson County — an almost 75% increase from the previous year. Comparatively, the number of auto thefts reported in the city was under 2,000 every year between 2009 and 2016.
Thefts appear to have begun rising again in 2017, but the largest spike was between 2022 and 2023. The last time the number of thefts was over 5,000 was in 1998 when around 6,411 thefts were reported, according to the MNPD's data.
There was a brief spike in thefts in the six-year period between 1992 and 1998, with one of the highest numbers recorded being 8,290 in 1996. However, prior to 1992, there were 3,000 or less thefts reported each year going back to the end of the data set in 1963.
The police department began compiling crime statistics in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) format in 1963 after the City of Nashville and Davidson County governments merged. One of the lowest counts was in 2014 when there were only 1,123 auto thefts reported to police.
A decade later, there have already been more car thefts reported just five months into 2024, with preliminary data ending on May 4 showing police have responded to 1,861 thefts in Nashville and Davidson County — a nearly 58% increase from the same time last year.
It's unclear exactly what's behind the rise in auto thefts, but Metro Nashville police have routinely said that many vehicles are easy targets for thieves because of the keys being left inside or "made easily available to thieves."
In fact, more than half of car thefts reported in Davidson County each week typically involve someone leaving their keys inside their vehicle, according to the police department. Investigators also commonly discover stolen cars being used to commit other crimes.
“We’re locating those cars usually at the scene of or shortly thereafter the scene of some type of violent crime, whether it be homicides, carjackings, other types of shootings," MNPD Lt. Brandon Tennant told News 2 in a previous interview.
As a result, the police department launched a special initiative on Feb. 1, 2024, to combat auto theft and other related crimes. Since then, officials said there have been 401 arrests and 229 stolen vehicles recovered.
Metro Nashville police have also been encouraging drivers to "Park Smart" since 2000. The campaign reminds drivers to lock their vehicles, secure their valuables and take their keys with them.
“Lock your car doors, please. Don’t leave valuable things in your cars. Please don’t leave guns in your cars. All of these things are very enticing,” Styles told News 2.
According to authorities, most cars are taken by amateurs who can be stopped fairly easily. Taking additional precautions like parking in well-lit areas with lots of people around and using anti-theft devices can also help deter most thieves.
Anyone who does become a victim of car theft should report it to the police department by calling 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
from WKRN News 2 https://ift.tt/tENQUo9
No comments: