Catherine McAlpine shares grief over break-ins and stolen vehicle in Darwin

Catherine McAlpine has lived in the Top End for two decades. But in the last six years, a “cascade” of crime has left the Territorian feeling unsafe in her beloved home town.

After two break-ins and a stolen vehicle, Catherine McAlpine has lost out on $70,000.

After losing $70,000 across two break-ins and a stolen vehicle, a longtime Darwin resident has called for greater victim support.

A Top End resident of more than two decades, Catherine McAlpine, 55, said in recent years she experienced a“cascade of events” that shattered her life, and left her financially vulnerable.

In March, 2018, Ms McAlpine’s small business was broken into, which disrupted work operations and dried up her income.

“The whole business was ransacked, the damage was massive,” she said.

“I would have easily have lost six weeks of profitable working time over a period of a couple months just trying to piece together my insurance and meeting with tradespeople to get repairs done.

“The business never recovered completely because of employment and financial challenges – it never quite made it back to normal.”

The alleged offenders destroyed more infrastructure and items than they stole when they busted into Catherine McAlpine’s Stuart Park business.

Months later, Ms McAlpine became the victim of a second significant crime, one she said left her “traumatised”.

Ms McAlpine had returned to her residence to find her home had been broken into, with cash, jewellery and more than $10,000 worth of photography equipment stolen.

Between her business and house being broken into, Ms McAlpine claims her financial losses amounted to $45,000.

She said the mental and emotional damage “destroyed” her sense of security.

“I felt totally violated at every level – every part of my personal and private possessions they had gone through,” she said.

“I never felt safe or peaceful in my own premises after that.”

The damage to the engine, wheels and windows of the LandCruiser amounted to $25,000. Picture: Supplied.

The pain did not end, however, when in December, 2023, Ms McAlpine received another “kick in the guts” after the Toyota LandCruiser she shared with her partner was stolen and taken for a joy ride.

Once recovered, the damage to the vehicle was assessed at $25,000.

“It was utterly devastating – all these events have happened when we’re finally moving forwards, only to be set back again,” she said.

“To have something ripped from you and feeling like you have no voice and you’re not getting the support you need is absolutely devastating.”

Ms McAlpine has become intimately familiar with the victims of crime process and said more needed to be done to support those who were set back by criminal activity.

“The thing that has blown me away over all these incidents is the sheer volume of time you lose trying to get quotes, organise insurance and doing all the administrative stuff in the background,” she said.

“Getting a $400 levy doesn’t cut, the cost of being broken into or having your car stolen is significant (and) has so many secondary effects.”

At an age when most Territorians would plan their retirement, Ms McAlpine said she now struggled to make her mortgage repayments.

“If you’re a government employee you might be able to take a few days off or whatever, but if you’re in small business you’re stuffed – because while you’re trying to recover you’re not making a living.”