Children allegedly steal five cars, hoon through Alice Springs

Alice Springs police investigating after kids allegedly ram stolen cars through gate, swerve at cop cars.

Police allege children were behind the wheel of multiple stolen cars which rammed through the gates of an Alice Springs business and swerved at cop cars overnight.

NT Police have confirmed five vehicles were stolen from a commercial building on Bath St late Friday night.

Police said a security company raised the alarm around 11pm, and when officers arrived five vehicles were missing.

It was alleged two of the stolen rides were used to ram through the gates of the building.

Police allege children were behind the wheels of all of the stolen cars, as they hooned around the area.

CCTV allegedly captured the cars driving “erratically around the CBD”, including swerving at police vehicles before speeding off.

A police spokesman said officers could not pursue the cars “due to the weather conditions and the inherent risks to public safety and officers”.

All five vehicles were later recovered and towed to the police compound for forensic analysis.

Alice Springs Police say not all misbehaving kids go on to be hardened criminals

Alice Springs police say young offenders driven by “bravado” and teenage disobedience should not be treated as lost causes, with many “dropping off” the crime radar within a few years.

While there had been a lot of media attention on youth crime, Southern Watch Commander Allan Milner said by far, the larger issue facing police was not children, but alcohol.

“If we didn’t have all the alcohol issues, we could run a station of 20 — instead we’re 120-130 officers,” Mr Milner said.

He said a recovered stolen car, taken from a Sadadeen home on Monday, was very typical of young people’s crime patterns in Alice Springs.

Mr Milner said the car was found just six minutes down the road from the victim’s home.

“Unlike Darwin, our youth don’t leave Alice Springs,” he said.

“They hoon around, but it’s a lot of bravado.

“But they’re happy to stay local.”

Mr Milner said he believed the children were not doomed to a life of crime.

He said a core group of children – some as young as eight – were very active but many “dropped off” by the time they were 15 or 16.

“They tire of it,” he said.

“You never see 100 per cent go criminal. It’s a very small percentage that turn into adult offenders.”

Mr Milner said a group of 20 kids would typically thin to two “regulars” to police and courts.

He said often it was the families and social services who stepped in to get the kids back on track.

He said the issues of addiction should have been foreseen and acted on years ago, “but these issues are going to last years”.

It comes as police investigate after a group of teenagers cut through the wire fencing around a secure building running the alternative to custody program.

Mr Milner said the Drug and Alcohol Services Australia run centre, which works with women to develop life skills after prison, was broken into by four children at 1am on Wednesday.

He said within 17 minutes, the teenagers cut two holes in the security fence, smashed a window to access the kitchen, and rifled through the lounge and office.

“It doesn’t look like they’ve stolen anything,” Mr Milner said.

He said it was “weird” for the young group to target the secure facility.

Police are also investigating a break-in at a heritage listed building, The Residency, between 5pm Monday and 8.40am Tuesday.

Mr Milner said unknown offenders smashed a glass panel to gain entry and “rummage” through the Haley St attraction.

He said nothing appeared to have been stolen, but forensic teams would try to gather evidence.

Youths arrested after allegedly stealing vehicle, driving dangerously

Two boys aged 12 and 13 have been arrested in Alice Springs after a stolen vehicle was observed driving dangerously in the town on Tuesday morning.

An NT Police spokesman said at 8am a stolen Toyota Hilux was observed driving dangerously on the Stuart Highway, north of Alice Springs.

Tyre deflation devices were deployed but were unsuccessful in stopping the vehicle.

At 10am, police allege four youths abandoned the vehicle in Eastside, a suburb in Alice Springs.

Patrol Dog Huey was deployed and two youths were arrested a short time later.

Patrol Dog Huey located two of the four offenders allegedly involved in stealing and dangerously driving the vehicle. Supplied: NT Police.

The 12-year-old and 13-year-old males remain in custody to be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005.

Police said operations were ongoing, with Strike Force Viper working to identify the remaining offenders.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Alice Springs Police investigate suspicious Gillen house fire

Crime scene investigators are at the scene of a suspicious house fire after flames engulfed an Alice Springs home overnight.

Southern Watch Commander Alan Milner said police were called to a Gillen home after neighbours reported it was on fire at 10.20pm.

Mr Milner said no one was inside the three-bedroom home at the time.

He said neighbours told police the home was vacant, although “itinerants use it now and then”.

Police are investigating a suspicious house fire in Alice Springs, on Sunday night.

Mr Milner said it was suspected the rubbish left behind may have provided kindling, meaning the blaze moved quickly through the home.

He said fire crews were able to intervene to stop the fire before it burned down the home, but it still left significant damage.

“It’s going to cost a fair bit to fix up,” Mr Milner said.

He said a crime scene had been established, with a forensic review expected later on Monday.

Mr Milner said all fires were treated as suspicious until the cause of the blaze could be established.

Stolen ute crashed after overnight theft

Police are still searching for a stolen vehicle following a double ute heist from an Alice Springs Aboriginal organisation overnight.

Southern Watch Commander Alan Milner confirmed two Toyota Hilux dual cab utes were stolen from the Elder St Tangentyere depot overnight.

Mr Milner said police spotted the two stolen utes speeding around town before they “disappeared” for hours, briefly resurfacing at 2am.

He said at 4am one of the stolen utes was found crashed at Hong St, just outside the town centre.

Mr Milner said an unknown driver crashed into a parked trailer, before fleeing the scene.

He said one Toyota Hilux dual cab ute, with the registration TANG491, was still missing.

Ram raid: Kids allegedly use stolen car in dramatic booze grab

A group of children allegedly used a stolen car to break into a Braitling business and steal alcohol, police said.

NT Police Southern Watch Commander Michael Fields said the driver allegedly reversed the car into the shop front and caused major damage at 3.30am on Sunday.

“Four (alleged) offenders got out of the vehicle and they’ve stolen an unknown quantity of alcohol then driven off,” he said.

“Then the same vehicle has been driven along a pedestrian walkway in the Coles complex in Alice Springs CBD.”

Mr Fields said the driver allegedly crashed the car into four support poles and lodged the car on a handrail.

He said police chased the group on foot when they fled the scene.

Police arrested a 13-year-old boy and girl and a 12-year-old boy.

Mr Fields said the two 13-year-olds were taken to Alice Springs Watch House and expected charges to be laid.

He said the 12-year-old boy was taken home and would be referred to youth diversion.

“There’s at least one or possibly more outstanding (alleged) offenders,” Mr Fields said.

“If anyone’s got any information in relation to it, they could call police on 131 444 and quote job reference number P23084695.”

65-year-old allegedly abducted, assaulted

A 40-year-old man has been charged with deprivation of liberty in Alice Springs after an incident which sent a 65-year-old man to hospital.

NT Police said they received reports a 65-year-old man had allegedly been abducted by an offender in a vehicle on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said while the vehicle was driven around the CBD the complainant was allegedly assaulted multiple times.

The complainant was eventually able to flee from the offender and received assistance from members of the public before being conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital for medical assessment.

Police arrested the offender after he allegedly entered a business on Larapinta Dr.

A short time later, the 40-year-old allegedly entered a business on Larapinta Dr where multiple small items were stolen.

Police arrested him nearby where he was conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital and remained under guard.

He has been charged with abduction, robbery and deprivation of liberty and is expected to appear in Alice Springs Local Court later today.

Originally published as Children allegedly steal five cars, hoon through Alice Springs