Preliminary numbers show crime down again in Nashville

Overall crime fell in Nashville for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year in 2008, according to unofficial statistics provided by the Metro Police Department.

Although the number of murders rose from 73 in 2007 to 74 last year, overall crime was down about 2 percent, according to preliminary numbers released by police. The numbers compare crime statistics through Dec. 27, 2008 with statistics from the same time frame in 2007.

The official statistics for 2008 will be released in February or March. However, if the numbers hold up as expected, it will mark the fifth straight year crime dropped. That’s an unprecedented drop since such statistics have been kept by police, according to spokeswoman Kristin Mumford.

“When you look at the decrease in overall crime, you’re seeing the success of not just great police work but our outreach to the community,” Mumford said. “You have an increased number of neighborhood groups and community coordinators are really getting people involved so you see whole neighborhoods working with police.”

Nashville also saw the total number of violent offenses drop by about 5 percent. The most significant drops came in commercial robberies (27 percent), commercial burglaries (17 percent) and car thefts (17 percent).

Beside murders, there was also an increase in the number of residential burglaries, which rose 5 percent according to the preliminary 2008 numbers.

Mumford said the numbers did not account for the final four days of the year and were subject to a final review, which would take place over the coming weeks.

The slight increase in the number of murders came after two consecutive years of decreases in Nashville homicides.