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KPD recorded 17 murders in 2025. Porch boxes still walk off on a Vols Saturday.
Murders fell from 23 in 2024 to 17 in 2025 — the lowest since 2016, per Chief Paul Noel and KPD’s year-end report. That is progress. It is not a reason to leave the slider unlocked on a Tuesday in Fountain City.
What the 2025 KPD numbers actually say
Knoxville finished 2025 with 17 murders, down 26 percent from 23 in 2024 and the lowest total since 2016. Robberies fell about 27 percent. Motor vehicle thefts fell about 22 percent. Burglaries were essentially flat. Those are citywide KPD figures. They mix downtown, Fort Sanders, Bearden, and the far-west ZIPs. A quieter street is not 24/7 monitoring. A neighbor on the porch is not an ADT operator.
Chief Paul Noel’s department also reported fewer non-fatal shootings. Direction matters. The house still sits empty during the workday, on a Neyland Saturday, and when the Smokies play at Covenant Health Park downtown.
Porch packages on Bearden, Old City, and Fountain City stoops
Walkable strips are why people add a doorbell. Kingston Pike through Bearden, the Old City blocks, and Fountain City collect Amazon boxes on stoops while owners are at work, at UT Medical, or sitting in Neyland. A camera you check yourself is useful. It is not the same as ADT calling you when a door opens.
Knoxville homeowners can trust a SafeStreets security system monitored by ADT. The system is for the hours no one is looking out the window — not a claim that your street is dangerous.
Empty houses, not scare copy
Game-day traffic on Neyland Drive and Cumberland empties Fort Sanders and Sequoyah Hills. A Smokies night at Covenant Health Park empties downtown condos. Knox County school drop-off empties Hardin Valley and Farragut two-stories. Those are occupancy problems. Monitoring is the product.
What people actually order after a missing package or a leftover keypad
Door and window sensors, including the patio slider. A doorbell camera if packages sit out front. Outdoor cameras if the driveway holds a car overnight. Cellular backup so the panel still reaches ADT when KUB drops. That is the Knoxville order, not a twelve-camera quote unless you ask for one.
Get a quote: (865) 500-6003 Neighborhoods we serve
Source: Knoxville Police Department preliminary 2025 priority crime report (17 murders, down from 23 in 2024; lowest since 2016). Chief Paul Noel. Burglaries roughly flat year over year. Numbers change. We cite the year. We do not invent neighborhood crime rates.
Is Knoxville “safe enough” to skip monitoring?
Murders fell. Porch theft and empty houses did not take the year off. Monitoring is for the hours you commute, sit at Neyland, or leave for a Smokies game — not a verdict on your ZIP.
Do quieter towns like Farragut still order ADT?
Yes. Farragut, Hardin Valley, Oak Ridge, and Maryville orders are usually school-day empties, leftover builder keypads, and packages on the stoop. Same ADT watch as Fountain City. Independent cities are not KPD — we name the desk from the ZIP.
Will KPD come if the alarm trips?
ADT can request help based on the alert type. Inside the City of Knoxville that is typically KPD. Farragut, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Alcoa, Clinton, Lenoir City, and Sevierville dispatch differently. Confirm the desk from your ZIP. Knox 911 registration is how the city keeps keyholder notes current — we name the office on the call.