East Nashville violent crime down from last year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The streets of east Nashville haven't always been considered the safest, and with Facebook post after Facebook post showing attempted home break ins and cars ruffled through, it can be easy to picture it more dangerous than it is.

“With the Facebook posts and everything, you'll find out what's going on in your neighborhood before the police will,” resident Sonny Sims said.

Michelle Fisher was born and raised in east Nashville and says she's seen a dramatic change in just the last year.

“We got a lot more Metro Police patrolling in the area,” Fisher said.

Police statistics show in the past year, violent crime is down 11.5% compared to the same time the previous year. There’s been five fewer homicides, which is a 55.6% decrease. Robberies are down almost 20%.

“Breaking into cars is probably about the worst,” Sims said.

She's right, auto theft is one of the only crimes to go up, increasing by 7.1%.

“I love east Nashville and I think it's safe,” resident Chris Allen said.

“We all watch out for each other and if anything is going on the police are there quickly,” Sims said.