Alice Springs crime: Group on the run after alleged series of Desert Springs aggravated burglaries

A group of alleged offenders are still on the loose after stealing vehicles and injuring multiple people in a series of aggravated burglaries. Read the latest.

Police officers chat to a young man on the streets of Alice Springs at night. Thursday January 26,2023. Picture Mark Brake

September 19, 12pm: NT Police are on the hunt for a group of offenders alleged to have stolen two vehicles and injured multiple people in a series of aggravated burglaries in Desert Springs.

Up to five unknown offenders are alleged by NT Police to have unlawfully entered a residence on Concord Court about 1.35am on Thursday.

Police allege they stole a set of car keys, but fled the scene when they were disturbed by an occupant.

The offenders allegedly returned and confronted neighbours, throwing rocks at them.

A woman was allegedly struck by an unknown object, but did not require medical assessment.

The occupant was also struck with an object and allegedly had a substance sprayed in his eyes by the offenders, who proceeded to steal a white Mitsubishi Pajero and flee the scene.

He was taken to Alice Springs Hospital to receive medical treatment.

Police received reports the Pajero was involved in another alleged aggravated burglary at a home on Lakes Court.

It is further allege the offenders unlawfully entered the home and stole vehicle keys before they were disturbed by the occupants.

They returned to the Pajero to retrieve a weapon they allegedly used to threaten the people inside and then stole a white Toyota HiLux.

The offenders fled the scene with both vehicles.

Frontline police, including members from Strike Force Viper and Southern Investigations, responded and multiple crime scenes have been established.

The white Toyota HiLux was recovered after it was found burnt out south of Heavitree Gap.

The offenders and white Mitsubishi Pajero remain outstanding.

Southern Investigations detectives urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444.

Man charged after alleged threat to kill with weapon

September 19, 12pm: NT Police have charged a man who allegedly threatened the life of a person known to him with an edged weapon in an Alice Springs shopping centre.

It is alleged the 49-year-old man drove past the victim in the Alice Springs CBD and made threats to kill him at about 10am on Wednesday.

The man allegedly entered a shopping centre on Hartley St armed with an edged weapon at 10.50am.

He again approached the victim and allegedly made further threats to kill.

An altercation between the two occurred, with the man allegedly physically assaulting the victim and attempting to strike him with the edged weapon multiple times.

The victim retreated through the shopping centre attempting to defend himself.

Bystanders intervened allowing the victim to escape to the Alice Springs Police Station to report the incident.

The victim did not suffer any injuries.

Police commenced investigations and located the man and arrested him at 2pm.

He was taken to the Alice Springs Watch House where he was charged with recklessly endanger serious harm, and remanded him to appear in court.

‘Appaling’: Trio in custody after NT robberies across three suburbs

September 18, 2pm: Northern Territory police say they’ve arrested three men in relation to “appalling offending”, which took place earlier this year in the Red Centre.

Two teenage boys and one man – aged 12, 14, and 20 – were arrested by police on Wednesday, September 18, in relation to a series of crimes in Alice Springs in July.

The crimes relate to a string of alleged aggravated robberies which occurred in Eastside, Braitling, and Sadadeen, during July 20 to 21.

One of the crimes the trio have been linked to by police is an aggravated robbery to a pensioner – who said the people who broke into her home threatened her with a machete. 

Police said the 12-year-old will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005.

Police said the 14-year-old is expected to be charged with using a motor vehicle without consent.

The 20-year-old is also expected to be charged with four counts of aggravated robbery, five counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of using a motor vehicle without consent.

Detective Superintendent Drew Slape said investigations into the July incidents were still ongoing, and urged anyone with more information to contact police on 131 444.

“Police will continue to work tirelessly to investigate this type of appalling offending and place those responsible before the courts,” he said.

Red Centre police seize ’large of quantity of alcohol’ at restricted premises

Tennant Creek Police seized a large quantity of alcohol on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Picture: NT Police

September 18, 11am: A “large quantity of alcohol” has been seized from a restricted premises in the Red Centre, Northern Territory police say.

Police said the seizure happened on Sunday after “receiving intelligence” about white Holden Commodore in which alcohol and cannabis was allegedly being sold out of in Tennant Creek.

In a statement, NT Police said after evading officers earlier, they later found the car in the front yard of a “restricted premises”.

Police said they conducted a search, which resulted in them seizing 15 bottles of alcohol.

Superintendent Peter Dash said officers would continue to target the secondary supply of alcohol.

“In this instance the investigation led police to a restricted premise in Tennant Creek where the alcohol was being stockpiled and sold,” he said.

“The volume of alcohol seized indicates secondary supply, with someone making a great profit by preying on the more vulnerable people.

“There is a reason behind why some premises are declared restricted.”

Red Centre cops hunt for car thieves after two taken overnight

September 17, 7.50am: Police are searching for a stolen car after a second was recovered in Alice Springs.

Southern Watch Commander Deanne Ward said a car was reported stolen from a Sadadeen home about 3.15am Tuesday.

Sergeant Ward said the 2022 black Isuzu ute, with NT registration PUNTRD, was still outstanding as of 6am Tuesday.

She said police recovered another vehicle after it was abandoned in the Gap.

Sergeant Ward said the brand new vehicle was stolen from an Araluen home between 8.30pm Monday and 4am Tuesday.

She said no arrests had been made in relation to either incident.

Man exits stolen car, smashes cop car with baseball bat

September 16, 2pm: Northern Territory police say they’re still searching for people who may have been in a stolen car when it allegedly parked next to a police car, and a man got out and smashed the front window with a baseball bat – while others shattered the rear window by throwing “projectiles” at it.

Police said the police car was smashed on Saturday, September 14, at 3.27am, outside the Alice Springs Police Station on Parsons St, while no officers were inside it.

The offenders were in a stolen maroon Holden Commodore, police said, which was “immobilised” later on South Tce by a “tyre deflation device”.

Police said they then chased the offenders into the Todd River after they fled the car, which resulted in a 17-year-old male being arrested.

He was charged with using a motor vehicle without consent, police said.

Investigations into who damaged the police car are “ongoing”, police said.

Police are urging anyone with more information to get in contact.

Acting Superintendent Danny Bell said “we will hold those responsible to account”.

“This incident demonstrates the dangerous and reckless behaviour of some individuals who believe they can evade the law,” he said.

“Thanks to the actions of our officers, we were able to bring this vehicle to a halt without injury to police or the public.”

Guest relocated after intruder armed with machete breaks into hotel room

September 16, 10am: Northern Territory police say a machete-wielding intruder unlawfully entered a hotel room in Alice Springs at the weekend – after four males stole from another room while a guest was asleep inside.

Police said four males allegedly entered two different hotels on Sunday, September 15, at 5am, stealing “alcohol and personal belongings” from the first hotel room while someone was asleep inside.

The same group then allegedly went to another hotel, where they also allegedly entered another room – with one “reportedly armed with a machete”, police said.

“The males stole two bags and fled the scene, running towards the nearby golf course. Despite being pursued by security personnel, the offenders managed to escape,” police said.

The person staying in the second room was relocated, police said, with a crime scene declared.

Police are urging anyone with more information to get in contact on 131 444, or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Stolen campervan taken for joy ride in Alice Springs, police use tyre deflation devices

September 16, 7am: Police were forced to use a tyre deflation device in Alice Springs on Monday morning after a pair of kids allegedly took a campervan for a joy ride.

About 3.30am, a business on North Stuart Highway was broken into and the offenders stole a campervan.

After being notified of the break-in, police then identified the stolen campervan being driven around the Alice Springs CBD.

With the vehicle failing to stop, police were forced to deploy a tyre deflation device which successfully brought the campervan to a halt.

Two youths were located within the campervan – one child was taken home due to his age with the other child expected to be taken to a youth diversion program.