NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Auto theft has been one of the fastest rising crimes in Nashville and Davidson County for much of this year, but data from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) indicated the trend appears to have leveled off.
The MNPD believes the areas targeted by thieves tend to be sporadic — shopping centers, apartment complexes and hotels were targeted.
December marks a shift from the beginning of 2024 when auto theft cases were up by nearly 120% in Davidson County. However, there has been a 5.7% drop in cases compared to last year. In all, there have been 4,835 reported auto thefts this year.
The East Precinct has seen the greatest increase in auto thefts, with a 17.2% rise. That contrasts with the drop seen in the Hermitage precinct, which overall saw a decline by 132 thefts.
“The team is able to dedicate their time to precision policing,” Amanda Kozen with the MNPD told News 2.
By contrast, Hendersonville police chief James Jones said there has not been an increase in auto thefts there. Jones told News 2 that the majority of stolen vehicles are coming out of Davidson County; Jones attributed low auto theft rates to the city’s crime prevention technology.
“If you steal a car, don’t drive it to Sumner County because we make heavy use of our LPR system,” Jones added. “Once that car enters the city, our officers are going to know and they’re going to take steps to arrest whoever’s in that car and recover the stolen vehicle.”
License plate recognition (LPR) usage has been a hot topic across Middle Tennessee, with Metro Council voting down a contract between MNPD and Fusus that would have expanded surveillance in Davidson County. Every county surrounding Davidson County utilizes LPR technology.
“What we explain to people is: you don’t have to be concerned about your privacy,” Jones said. “The LPR cameras are nearly there to help record the vehicles going through and it doesn’t even create an issue unless you’re driving a vehicle that is stolen or has been utilized in a crime.”
The holiday season sometimes accompanies a surge in auto thefts. Kozen had a few tips for how to prevent vehicle theft:
- Lock your vehicle
- Secure your valuables
- Take your keys with you
