Fire that destroyed heavy equipment at Yuendumu was deliberately lit

A fire at a Yuendumu work site destroyed four key pieces of heavy equipment. Read what was wrecked.

The Yuendumu police station. Picture: Jason Walls

Welcome to the NT News’ weekly Alice Springs and Central rolling police, crime, traffic, fire and breaking news blog. Keep up with the latest news from Alice Springs right up to the Barkly.

Machinery worth tens-of-thousands of dollars was allegedly deliberately set on fire at a worksite in Yuendumu on Saturday morning.

Around 6.15am the joint emergency communications centre received reports an employee attended a work site on Nyrippi Road, Yuendumu where he discovered four burnt-out items of heavy machinery.

Destroyed were an Isuzu tip truck bearing, Bobcat E50 mini excavator, Caterpillar 311D Excavator and a Chase CX57C Excavator.

The machinery was parked along Nyrippi Road within about 50m of each other, when four workers finished their shift and left the site at 5.30pm Friday.

A preliminary assessment by an NT Fire and Rescue Service fire investigator indicated the fire was deliberately lit and the investigation is continuing.

Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444, quoting reference number P24347724.

Man allegedly attacked with blunt weapon in Alice Springs

December 14, 2pm: A man has been hospitalised with a head injury after he was allegedly attacked with a blunt weapon on the streets of Alice Springs overnight.

About 2.25am on Saturday, police received reports that two men were arguing on Todd Street.

It is alleged one of the men struck the other in the head with a blunt weapon, knocking him unconscious.

Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the victim was taken to Alice Springs Hospital in a stable condition.

The alleged offender fled the scene in a silver sedan and was last seen driving towards the Sadadeen area, remains outstanding.

Investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number P24347568.

Six break-ins overnight in Alice, car stolen in Tennant Creek

Latest update - December 13, 4pm: A pair of teenagers have been charged in relation to a stolen motor vehicle in Tennant Creek this week.

About 11.55pm on Wednesday, police received reports a white Toyota Hilux had allegedly been stolen from a medical facility on Irvine St.

The occupants of the stolen vehicle allegedly rammed through the facility gates before the vehicle was seen driving dangerously through the town centre.

The alleged offenders abandoned the vehicle on Whippet St before fleeing on foot.

On Thursday afternoon, police say they arrested two boys, aged 13 and 14, in relation to the incident.

The 13 year-old was charged with burglary, driving a motor vehicle without consent, theft, ram raiding, driving unlicensed, driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, damaging property, and receiving stolen property.

The 14 year-old was charged with damaging property, burglary, riding a motor vehicle without consent, theft, resisting police, going equipped for theft, and attempted aggravated burglary.

Initial - December 12, 6am: Six break-ins in a single night have kept police busy in Alice Springs.

Senior Sergeant Mick Fields said there were break-ins Wednesday night in Araluen, The Gap, East Side, Larapinta, and Sadadeen.

He said they occurred between “the hours of midnight and 4am” and the alleged offenders smashed windows or forced their way through doors to get inside.

The offenders allegedly damaged the front door with edged weapons before they were confronted by the male occupant outside the East Side residence.

They then allegedly threatened the man with edged weapons before retreating behind the screen door.

Police allege they continued to strike the door and demand alcohol, which the occupant provided.

They fled in a white Mitsubishi Verada sedan, which had alleged been stolen from Araluen, Mr Fields said.

Police have since arrested two males aged 19 and 16 who are expected to be charged, and the vehicle was found abandoned south of the Gap.

One offender remains on the loose.

In Tennant Creek, Sgt Fields said police were searching for a white Toyota Hilux which was stolen just before midnight from a medical business on Irvine St.

Mr Fields alleged offenders stole the car at about 11.55pm with “keys previously stolen from the compound”.

“They rammed the gates, stealing a local business vehicle,” he said.

The vehicle was later driven through Tennant Creek “dangerously” and was abandoned on Whippet St.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Offenders allegedly ram gates, collide with car in Tennant Creek

December 11, 2pm: The occupants of an alleged stolen vehicle that rammed the gates of a commercial premises in Tennant Creek before colliding with another vehicle remain outstanding.

At about 1.30am on Wednesday, a Toyota Hiace van was stolen from a commercial premises on Schmidt Street in Tennant Creek.

The vehicle was allegedly used to ram the gates at the premises before it was driven around Tennant Creek in the following hours.

About 3.30am, the stolen vehicle was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle on Paterson Street.

No injuries were reported to police.

The stolen vehicle and alleged offenders remain outstanding and the matter remains under investigation.

NT Police Southern Watch commander James Grey Spence revealed police attempted to intercept the stolen vehicle.

“We did have a local health service in Tennant Creek affected when some young people stole the van and rammed out through the gates, and it was later involved in some vehicle offending,” he said.

“I believe it did collide with a civilian vehicle. Police responded, they had a plan with tyre deflation devices and others, but we didn’t take anyone into custody.

“I believe at this point in time the vehicle’s still outstanding, but we’ll continue to work to resolve that incident.”

Police urge anyone with information to contact 131 444.

Thieves crawl through kitchen window to steal cars

December 9, 6am: Two cars have been stolen from a home in suburban Alice Springs by thieves who entered the home by crawling through the kitchen window, police say.

Northern Territory police southern watch commander Andrew Dunn said police were searching for two cars stolen from a home in Gillen during a “busy weekend” where four break-ins were reported to police in a single night.

Mr Dunn said the cars were stolen from the Gillen home about 9pm Sunday night.

Mr Dunn said an unknown number of offenders entered the home through the kitchen window while one person was home.

“The persons who broke in didn’t even confront that person,” he said.

The two vehicles, a 2000 maroon Toyota Avalon and a 2001 white Nissan Patrol, were yet to be found, along with the offenders, Mr Dunn said.

He is calling on assistance from the public to help locate the vehicles.

Both cars have Territory registration. The Avalon’s number plate is 978337, while the patrol has a personalised plate: PUGTROL.

Mr Dunn said on Sunday, single break-ins in Eastside and Larapinta were reported to police.

Another two occurred in Gillen, however, out of the four, only the home in Gillen had something reported stolen from it, Mr Dunn said.

He is urging anyone who’s sighted the two vehicles to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2400124791.

Originally published as Fire that destroyed heavy equipment at Yuendumu was deliberately lit