Crime by type
Nashville Crime by Type
A breakdown of the offense categories that shape day-to-day safety across Davidson County.
Overview
What drives crime in Nashville
Not every kind of crime behaves the same way in Nashville. Property offenses are spread widely and track with traffic and foot activity, while the more serious violent categories stay concentrated in particular pockets of the city.
By category
Rates and odds by crime type
Estimated annual rate per 100,000 residents and your everyday odds, with risk level relative to the U.S. average.
Drill down
What's actually reported in Nashville
The most common specific offenses behind each category, from reported incident descriptions.
Theft 21,278 reports
Assault 16,094 reports
Retail Theft 4,201 reports
Vandalism 3,196 reports
Drug Offense 3,000 reports
Burglary 2,256 reports
Detail
Crime types in Nashville, explained
Motor Vehicle Theft
Auto theft and break-ins are among the most common reports, with garages, event parking near Lower Broadway, and apartment lots downtown drawing repeated activity. Leaving valuables or a key fob in view raises the odds sharply.
Theft / Larceny
Theft of unattended property is the single largest category, fueled by tourism, busy retail along corridors like West End, and crowded entertainment venues.
Burglary
Residential and commercial break-ins cluster in pockets and often spike where homes back onto vacant lots or low-traffic streets, though rates are well below national levels in the leafier southern neighborhoods.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assaults are heavily concentrated in nightlife zones and a few specific corridors, frequently tied to late-night alcohol-fueled disputes downtown and in Midtown.
Robbery
Robberies are comparatively rare citywide but rise around transit points, ATMs, and bar districts during late hours.
Homicide
Homicide is uncommon for most residents and is tightly concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods rather than spread across the city.