Alice Springs crime: Two bikes stolen from Outback Motorcycle Adventures, premises ransacked

The owners of a motorcycle adventure business were out bush when they received the news that every Alice Springs business owner dreads: they’d been broken into.

Damian McGrath and Michael Vroom from Outback Motorcycle Adventures in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Even with limited phone coverage on the Finke Track, terrible news still got through to the owners of Outback Motorcycle Adventures: their premises had been broken into.

Owners Michael Vroom and Damian McGrath were leading a tour of 16 keen interstate dirt-bikers down the track when they said the owner of the business next door got in touch via text message and broke the news.

“It was pretty uncomfortable to hear that,” Mr Vroom told the NT News.

“We had to wind things up as best we could and get into town in good order, still give our customers the best experience for the remainder of their tour, and get back to town to find out exactly what had happened.”

The section of fence – now closed up – which was cut open so the intruders could gain access to the premises.

Upon return, the duo said they were greeted to a ransacked premises: every door to the building had been damaged; money had been taken from the till; apparel which was for sale was stolen; all the draws and cupboards had been emptied; locks were smashed and damaged; and two motorbikes from the premises had been stolen.

“They gained entry at the rear door to the main building by smashing the door off the hinges,” Mr Vroom said.

“We’ve got a lot of collectable motorcycles here that are individually locked up that had been attempted to be stolen.

“It’s had a huge effect on our business.”

All up, the duo estimate the bill from the break in – including damages to the property – would be around $30,000.

“Fortunately, we were on tour with a full group, so all of our motorcycles were out on tour,” Mr Vroom said.

A damaged padlock and brake disc on one of the motorcycles.

“Other than the collectable bikes, there were another two left in the storage shed, and they were two that were stolen.”

The duo are offering a cash reward for anyone who helps them locate the bikes, and have been looking out, conducting their own searches for the bikes.

“Its put us in a huge amount of stress and anxiety, because of the fact by the nature of our business we have to go out of town for our tours,” Mr Vroom said.

“So what do we do with this place?”

Mr McGrath also lives in the building which was broken into, and said that in the last five years he has had “four major incidents” living in Alice Springs.

“I’ve had two break-ins at my old house, a home invasion and then this break in,” he said.

“It’s to the point where my partner couldn’t live in this town anymore and left.”

Mr Vroom echoed a similar sentiment: “the frustration is beyond belief.”

An NT police spokesperson said they were aware of the incident and investigating.

“Over the weekend, Northern Territory Police received a report that an unknown number of offenders had allegedly stolen two motorcycles from a business on the Stuart Highway in Alice Springs,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police are investigating the incident, and are urging anyone with information to contact 131 444 or to visit your local station and quote NTP2400047027.”