Smashed car windows greeted Nashville Electric Service workers early Friday morning amid ongoing efforts by the utility company to restore power to the county. Eleven vehicles were burglarized around 4 a.m. at NES’ downtown headquarters, according to a statement from the Metro Nashville Police Department. Three handguns were stolen from the vehicles.
Vehicle owners were among the more than 1,000 electrical repairmen working to restore power across the county. More than 70,000 customers are still in the dark six days after snow, followed by sleet and subzero temperatures, iced power lines and downed trees in a national weather emergency now termed Winter Storm Fern.
“There’s an active Metro police report on the matter,” an NES spokesperson tells the Scene. “NES can’t comment on the matter. There has been a police report filed on it.”
For the first time since Sunday, the mayor’s office and the electricity provider held separate press conferences
NES has protective fencing and security guards at its downtown parking lots. The incident was the second vehicle break-in at NES in three months, one utility employee tells the Scene. Linemen travel frequently for work and keep personal items, like valuables and handguns, in their parked vehicles while on shift.
At its peak, the storm caused more than 220,000 outages in Nashville, but restoration has slowed in the days following the storm. These delays have turned public sentiment against NES, which many blame for being understaffed and unprepared for the ice storm. After a week of joint media appearances, the mayor and NES held separate press conferences on Thursday.
MNPD did not share the full police report but confirmed the incident in a statement.
“At 6:20 this morning, officers were advised by NES security of vehicle break-ins at one of their parking lots on 12th Avenue North,” reads the full statement provided by MNPD spokesperson Brooke Reese. “11 vehicles were burglarized during the 4 a.m. hour while their owners were working. Three pistols were stolen. The thieves smashed windows on the vehicles to gain entry. A team of Vehicle Crimes detectives is actively investigating these break-ins and is pursuing leads.”
