Mitchells Adventure Berrimah calls for crime action after weapon theft
Management at a Darwin camping store are cleaning up the mess yet again after thieves broke in and nabbed weapons worth $15k.
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Management at a Darwin camping store are calling for harsher penalties on crime after $15,000 of weapons were stolen in the business’ eighth break-in this year.
Mitchells Adventure at Berrimah was broken into about 4am on Friday.
A group of people allegedly smashed through one of the store’s few windows without antitheft barriers.
Assistant manager Billy Armitstead said eight crossbows, 10 bows, 12 machetes, a number of axes and about 100 bolts and arrows were stolen.
“There was glass smashed all through the store,” he said.
He estimated the total cost of the stolen weapons at around $15,000 – after the Boxing Day sale discount.
Mr Armitstead said the group allegedly “kicked in” the door to the warehouse area where the store’s weapons were stored at night.
“They were coming in for weapons,” he said.
Mr Armitstead said the alleged offenders spent about 20 minutes cutting through the business’ fence before spending roughly the same amount of time inside the store.
The break-in was the first since August, when the business stepped up its security measures.
“We’ve got cameras, we’ve got alarms,” Mr Armitstead said.
“If something’s locked up, people shouldn’t be getting in there.”
Tens of thousands of dollars of weapons and other gear have been stolen in break-ins since the start of the year, and even more has been lost in repairing the business’ front gate, which has been damaged four times, with a bill of about $4500 each time.
The business was forced to close on Friday so management could clean up and take stock of the stolen goods.
“Enough is enough,” manager Michael Clarke said.
Mr Armitstead said he wanted tougher penalties imposed on repeat offenders.
“It’s time the government does something for the little people,” he said.
“We’re here left to clean up the crap and have to deal with it.
“Things need to change now.
“We can’t keep going on with this.
“The police are doing a fantastic job … but it’s time the government supported the police and the courts supported the police and start locking these criminals up.”
Police located the vehicle believed to be involved in the break-in, a 2WD single-cab Toyota HiLux, on Friday afternoon before a dramatic pursuit ensued, with one witness saying six police cars were seen “barrelling” down the Stuart Hwy.
The vehicle was stopped near Cox Peninsula Rd in Berry Springs before a number of people fled into bushland between Hopewell Rd and Doris Rd.
A police cordon was set up in the area, with some of the stolen weapons recovered before the rest were found in bushland about 40km from Daly River.
One adult and four youths were arrested on Friday afternoon after allegedly fleeing the scene.
Charges were expected to be laid on Friday night.
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Originally published as Mitchells Adventure Berrimah calls for crime action after weapon theft
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