Abandoned house fire in Eastside, Alice Springs triggers investigation

Emergency services are on the scene and an investigation remains underway. Read the latest.

An abandoned house in Eastside, Alice Springs has been engulfed in flames.

July 23: An abandoned house in Alice Springs has been reduced to a smoking wreck after it was engulfed in flames on Tuesday morning.

About 4.15am on Tuesday, police received multiple reports of a house fire in Eastside.

It was determined by police that the residence was an abandoned, unoccupied house and no injuries were reported.

Emergency services remain on the scene and investigations are expected to continue until mid morning.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact authorities on 131 44 and reference 24197123.

Residence broken into, keys, vehicles stolen

July 23: Police are combing a stolen car for forensic evidence, while another stolen vehicle remains unaccounted for, with police appealing to the public for information.

About 10.15pm on Monday, unknown offenders entered a residence on Cicconi, Alice Springs, where they stole two car keys and a pair of vehicles.

A short time later, police located one the vehicles which had been crashed and abandoned.

The vehicle was taken to a police compound for forensic testing.

The second, a purple, 2007 Honda Jazz, remains outstanding.

The Honda’s registration has been reported as CB37DS.

Police are urging anyone if information to contact authorities on 131 444 and reference number P24196943.

Five home invasions believed to be linked, burglar bitten by police dog

Several Alice Springs homes have been invaded in a string of break-ins police believe could be linked.

Southern Watch Commander Marc Watson said three homes in less than three hours were targeted across Sadadeen and Braitling.

Sergeant Watson said three alleged armed offenders bearing “edged weapons” broke into a Sadadeen home at 11.31pm Saturday.

He said they threatened the 75-year-old woman living in the house before fleeing.

Sergeant Watson said a Braitling home was targeted at 12.21am Sunday, with three armed offenders breaking into the home before stealing a vehicle.

He said the car was still missing, and described it as a blue Holden Cruze with registration 973103.

Sergeant Watson said a third incident – also in Braitling – was reported at 1.56am.

He said an unknown number of offenders tried to force their way into the occupant’s locked bedroom door, forcing the resident to flee through their bedroom window.

Sergeant Watson said the group stole the resident’s car, which had since been recovered by police.

He said crime scenes had been established at each home, and said police “suspect” the incidents were linked.

Sergeant Watson said police believed two similar home invasions with “similar MOs” the night before could also be linked to the group.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Watson said a man and 17-year-old boy had been arrested after they allegedly tried to burgle a Sadadeen home.

He said the home’s occupant was away at the time of the incident but saw the pair on his CCTV and called police about 4.46am Sunday.

Sergeant Watson said the adult allegedly tried to flee when cops arrived at the scene but was bitten by police dog Fitzy.

He said the man suffered “minor” injuries as a result of the attack.