Of Tennessee’s many attributes, low crime rates are not one of them. The state as well as the city of Nashville has not traditionally ranked very well on lists of safe places. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Tennessee 2nd for the most violent crimes per 100,000 people, with a rate of 760 of these crimes per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes consist of murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. In 2009, Congressional Quarterly magazine ranked Tennessee 6^th for most crime overall, including both violent and property crimes. Though Nashville has traditionally not fared so well in this category, the city is finally seeing changes. 2009 marked the sixth year in a row that crime rates in the city fell. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, rape, larceny, robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft all reported significantly fewer incidences in 2009. Despite these improvements, when moving to Nashville, or anywhere, it is important to take measures to protect your property and, more importantly, your loved ones.Advancements in home security technology are helping to reduce crime rates nationwide and can help you sleep worry-free at night and give you peace of mind when you’re away. Homes with a security system are at least three times less likely to be robbed. Immediate notification of home security personnel and local law enforcement help keep your home out of harm’s way. Another recent trend is text and email notification systems. Many security companies offer you a way to be notified via other electronic devices if there is a problem at home or the alarm goes off. Some smart phones such as the Apple iPhone even have an application that allows you to activate or deactivate your alarm, no matter where you are, using your phone. Being aware of the crime rates in your city is important, but with the home security technology of today, it’s nothing to lose sleep over.