Alice Springs residents warned to lock doors as ‘opportunistic’ crime increases

NT Police have reminded Alice Springs residents to lock their doors, even if somebody is home, after multiple unlawful entries in 24 hours.

Police are investigating an alleged robbery in Alice Springs CBD, where an unknown quantity of alcohol was stolen. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NT Police are reminding Alice Springs residents to lock their doors and secure their belongings as they experience a rise in opportunistic crimes.

NT Police Southern Watch Commander Mick Fields said there were four residential unlawful entries in 24 hours in Alice Springs on Friday.

He said in two of those incidents, offenders gained entry to the properties through smashing glass windows, while in the other two incidents offenders gained entry through unlocked doors.

“Residents have returned home from work and they didn’t lock their doors, offenders have come in and stolen things like handbags, mobile phones and vehicle keys,” he said.

He said no vehicles were stolen during the incidents, but reminded residents of the importance of securing their property and belongings even when they are home.

“There’s a lot of matters that are opportunistic crimes,” he said.

He said nobody had been arrested or charged in relation to the four incidents and that investigations remained ongoing.

Drone tracks down alleged robbers in Alice Springs

Two men were arrested after they allegedly stole alcohol from an Alice Springs business.

Southern Watch Commander Tim Healey said two men – aged 26 and 28 – allegedly stole alcohol from the licensed premises in Alice Springs CBD at about 1am Wednesday.

“The general duty guys became aware of an alarm activation, and then they observed two males running,” he said.

“Then the drone was put up in the air, and we managed to track them.”

Mr Healey said the two men were arrested about 25 minutes after the incident, but the men did not have the stolen goods on them.

“They’ve obviously dumped it, and we scooped them up,” he said.

Mr Healey said the incident was still under investigation by general duty officers and Strike Force Trident, with the full extent of the alleged robbery unknown.

No charges have been laid in relation to the incident.

Man attacked with ‘large sticks’ amid Red Centre ram raid spree

Police are on the hunt for seven fugitives after one group of crooks ram raided two businesses and another group attacked a man in his own home “armed with large sticks” overnight.

Investigators say two males unlawfully entered a residence on Rose Court in Braitling at about 11pm on Sunday night where they assaulted the man with the sticks before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to Alice Springs Hospital with “bruising and small lacerations to his face”, and anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area is being urged to come forward.

An hour later, a grey Ford Ranger dual cab ute was stolen from an address on Palm Place in Ross and used in a ram raid at a business on Gason St at about 12.20am.

An NT Police spokeswoman said five unknown offenders then entered the property before fleeing in the vehicle and ram raiding another business on Gap Rd about 10 minutes later.

At the second business the group stole “a large quantity of alcohol” before again fleeing the scene.

Officers successfully deployed tyre spikes to stop the vehicle on Larapinta Drive a short time later and all five occupants then fled on foot.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Alice Springs residents warned to lock doors as ‘opportunistic’ crime increases