Alice Springs Crime: Police search for electric scooter snatched from woman

Northern Territory police say they’re still searching for an electric scooter snatched from a woman over the weekend. Read the latest.

Northern Territory Police. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

October 7, 5pm: Northern Territory police say they are looking for a black electric scooter after it was “physically pulled” from a woman in an aggravated robbery in Alice Springs.

Police said two youths took the scooter from a 27-year-old woman who was riding it on Kempe Street, Friday, October 4, around 11.15pm at the Gap.

The youth allegedly blocked her path, police said, before “demanding she hand over her scooter”.

The black Segway-Ninebot Electric KickScooter which Northern Territory police say was taken from a 27-year-old female in Alice Springs on Friday, October 4. Picture: NTPFES

One of the youths then “struck her on the wrist”, police said, and “physically pulled the scooter from her grasp”.

“Police subsequently arrested two male youths, both aged 13, in the early hours of Saturday morning in relation to a separate incident and are working to establish any link between the arrest and the robbery,” police said.

The woman was not injured, police said, but her black Segway-Ninebot Electric KickScooter “remains outstanding” while Strike Force Viper investigate the incident.

“Its last known location was on Hartley Street in the early hours of Saturday morning,” police said.

Police are urging anyone with more information – such as dashcam footage or CCTV – to get in touch on 131 444, quoting reference number NTP2400099908.

Anonymous reports can also be made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Elderly woman successfully fends off handbag thief

October 7, 8am: A 76-year-old woman has fought off a teen who tried to steal her handbag outside a shopping centre.

Southern Watch Commander Marc Watson said the woman was sitting in her car outside the East Side shops about 9pm Saturday when the boy approached her.

Sergeant Watson said the teen opened one of the woman’s car doors and “snatched” her handbag.

He said the woman chased and caught the teen but was punched in her shoulder.

Sergeant Watson said the boy fled the scene, leaving the woman’s handbag behind.

He said cops’ initial inquiries had identified a suspect and police would be “paying him a visit in the near future”.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Watson said police had arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly attacked a security guard.

He alleged the man had been walking through the CBD “acting aggressively” towards members of the public about 12.15pm Sunday.

Sergeant Watson said the man allegedly entered a shopping centre but was escorted off the premises by a security guard.

He said the man allegedly attacked the guard once they were outside on Hartley St, punching him and hitting him multiple times with a 1.5m tree branch.

Sergeant Watson alleged police reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and confirmed the man swung the tree branch at the security guard “at least ten times” and mad contact four times.

He said the security guard was able to apprehend the man before police arrived to arrest the alleged offender.

Sergeant Watson said the man had been charged with going armed in public,

assault a worker, and disorderly behaviour in a public place.

He said the man would face the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.

Originally published as Alice Springs Crime: Police search for electric scooter snatched from woman