Serial armed robber at large in Franklin

Detectives investigating the Saturday morning armed robbery of the Twice Daily Shell station at 229 S. Royal Oaks Boulevard have learned that the same suspect attempted a robbery at another Franklin gas station earlier that same morning. 

An officer doing a business check at the Daily’s at 1500 Columbia Avenue earlyWednesday morning was advised by the clerk that at 4:25am on 08/10/2013, a black male wearing a dust mask and armed with a handgun demanded that he open the safe. When the clerk advised the suspect that he was not able to access the safe, the suspect fled on foot. For reasons unknown, the clerk did not call police following that robbery. 

Investigators obtained these surveillance photos today of the suspect during the Columbia Avenue Shell station robbery. The suspect in both robberies is described as a black male in his mid to late 20s, 6’ with a thin build. He was wearing a dark Little Caesar’s baseball cap, a white t-shirt, and dark pants. If you recognize him or have information about this case, you are urged to call Franklin Police. 

To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Crime Stoppers at (615) 794-4000 

Police Respond to Armed Robbery at Cool Springs Bank

At 5:51 last Friday evening, officers were summoned to the SunTrust Bank at 731 Cool Springs Boulevard for an armed robbery in progress. Tellers reported that a tall, slender white male entered the bank wearing a black nylon-type jacket with a hood, olive green pants, black shoes, and a Halloween mask that obscured his face. The suspect, armed with handgun, left after tellers complied with his demands for cash and remains at large. No one was injured during the robbery. 

Detective are asking that anyone with information regarding this case, or believes they may have witnessed something unusual in the area during their evening commute to call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513 or FBI-Nashville at (615) 232-7500. 

To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513.

East Nashville residents battle high crime perception

(From WSMV-TV):  East Nashville has become a popular destination for home buyers and renters in Music City.

Artisan restaurants, remodeled homes and new developments line many of the main streets, but some potential renters and homebuyers still say worries about crime is holding them back from moving across the river.

"We felt like crime was the only thing holding us back from being the best place in Nashville to live," said resident Bob Acuff.

East Nashville has changed a lot since Acuff first moved there in the 1990s.

Acuff, known around town as the neighborhood crime guy, is an east Nashville pioneer, because he is one of the first residents to move in when many parts of the area truly weren't safe.

Now, armed with a police scanner, Acuff listens for robberies, shootings and other incidents and hosts a weekly meeting with Metro police during which residents share anything fishy they have seen or heard.

He has been doing it since the year 2000 and has grown quite a following.

"I have a Twitter account that we started just to do armed robberies," Acuff said.

Police say the neighborhood initiative has paid off, as crime in east Nashville has fallen 35 percent since the year 2004, and home break-ins in 2012 have dropped by more than 300 incidents since just last year.

Real estate agents say that while potential homebuyers have a lot of interest in the area, some are still showing concern.

East Nashville dentist Dr. Thom Hadley said if he thought the area was dangerous, he would not have moved his family and practice, Eastside Smiles, there.

He thinks the key to change is getting more businesses and people to move east.

"Right now, we have a serious lack of professional services. We desperately need a pediatrician. There are so many children," Hadley said.

Acuff, the crime watchdog, agrees. Since residents took the neighborhood into their hands nearly a decade ago, Acuff said he is having a hard time keeping up his Twitter feed.

"The armed robberies have dropped to such an extent, I'm thinking about putting other things on there now," he said.

Nashville real estate agents suggest if anyone interested in moving who is worried about crime should check out a local crime map by visiting http://www.crimemapping.com/map.aspx?aid=f76eb358-fccd-4d97-905e-84b269d54586.