Get ’em out of there.
Nashville has exploded in recent years, with over 17 million visitors coming to Music City last year. Obviously many of them flock to Broadway, the 5-block stretch of downtown Nashville that features honky tonks, clubs, and massive bars named after some of the biggest artists in country music.
Broadway has gotten more and more packed over the past few years, to the point that the city has started shutting down the street to vehicles on weekends due to the massive crowds:
@zpierre509 Nashville Broadway crowds #lowerbroadway #nashvilletennessee #nashvillebroadway
Yeah, no thanks.
But with that many people, many of whom are from out of town and intoxicated, unfortunately you also get people who are looking to prey on tourists who are just here to have a good time and let their guard down.
Recently, several men were arrested as part of a scheme that’s stolen thousands of dollars from unsuspecting tourists downtown. The group, known as the “Krooks” gang, were allegedly targeting intoxicated visitors in downtown Nashville to sell them merchandise or t-shirts. The scammers would gain the victim’s trust and convince them to hand over their unlocked phone to make a payment before transferring large amounts of money from the victim’s payment apps.
Basically, they offer to sell you a t-shirt for $20, you hand over your phone so they can pay themselves for the shirt, and while they have your phone they transfer thousands of dollars to themselves instead.
According to Metro Nashville Police Department Sgt. Brian Quigley:
“They’d befriend a victim, which is somebody drunk walking down Broadway, or anybody that was really able to talk to them. Then they would use their phones and get access to it that was already open or unlocked.
These individuals were fast enough to do this crime where they would transfer $500 to $1,000 to $2,000 within five minutes of having their phone.”
The interactions also reportedly turned violent after the victim discovered what was happening.
I mean, it should go without saying: Never hand over your phone to a stranger. But again, these are people who are usually drunk and let their guard down. Doesn’t mean you can rob or take advantage of them.
Well nine people are currently facing charges in the scheme, including one juvenile who is just 16 years old. The group includes 21-year-old Demontaz D. Jones; 22-year-old Jamontez Alondo Gordon; 20-year-old Kesean Randall Johnson; 18-year-old Treshawn Jones; 18-year-old Deniyah Gordon; 19-year-old Ricky Dewayne Crawley Jr.; 24-year-old Brendan Howard; 20-year-old Makeel Horton; and a 16-year-old whose identity is protected because they’re a juvenile.
And a Nashville judge recently took the unusual step of ordering all nine of them to stay away from downtown Nashville entirely while their charges are pending.
Nashville Criminal Court Judge Steve Dozier issued an order prohibiting the 9 people from entering a downtown “safety zone,” which extends from Union Street to Korean Veterans Boulevard and from Rosa L. Parks Boulevard to the Cumberland River, including the tourist district of lower Broadway. Entering the area would be grounds for arrest.
Five of the nine have agreed to the temporary injunction, while the remaining four have pending hearings where it will be determined whether the injunction will remain in effect.
The entire case is just a reminder to keep your bearings about you while you’re out drinking and having a good time. Unfortunately, there are people looking to take advantage of those who are just out to have fun, and with so many drunk people packed into one spot, Broadway is a natural target for those with bad intentions.
Just keep your head on a swivel if you’re out on Broadway.
