Five cars stolen, five businesses hit: Ram Raid chaos in Alice Springs suburbs

A rainy night in the Red Centre hasn’t stopped a ram-raid rampage through Alice Springs – which has left local businesses with damage bills in the thousands. Find out more.

Mark Hangan and Dominic Randall in front of the fence that was damaged in the ram-raid.

A mechanic shop in the Red Centre has bore the brunt of ram-raids in Alice Springs with five cars stolen from the premises – which have allegedly been used to target other businesses.

NT News understands Autocorrect in Araluen was the first business hit in a series of ram raids in the Red Centre town, with the business broken into around 12.30am on Thursday, May 30.

Workshop manager Mark Hangan said the gate was rammed open, the workshop broken into and five cars stolen.

The thieves cut open the safe to get the car keys, Mr Hangan said, which was also locked inside another locked cabinet.

“It’s a big hit,” he said.

Vehicles in the Autocorrect workshop were vandalised.

“Customers rocked up this morning because their cars were booked in I had to sort of turn them away.

“And it’s going to be a week or so before we can function again.

“That’s a lot of money lost.”

Mr Hangan said earlier this month three motorbikes were also stolen from the business, with the thieves also smashing the windows of cars that were parked in the yard.

With employees still needing to be paid, gates needing to be replaced, and graffiti scrubbed from the workshop walls, Mr Hangan said it was too early to estimate how much the total damage bill would be.

But in the neighbouring suburb of Gillen, Gillen Club general manager Ian McCormack estimates the attempted ram raid on his establishment caused “about 20-something thousand worth of damage.”

“That’s what I’ve been quoted,” he said.

Ian McCormack next to damage from the ram-raid.

Mr McCormack said he was alerted to the attempted ram-raid about 2am, and was onsite at half-past two to assess the damage.

Aside from the damage to the fence, the thieves also tried to kick in the door – breaking the glass on it – and damaged the doorframe trying to “jimmy it open,” according to Mr McCormack.

He said they were unable to gain entry to the premises.

“We’ve got good security here,” he said.

A vehicle in the Autocorrect yard with its window smashed.

“Cameras, flashing sirens and lights and all that sort of stuff – it doesn’t deter them.

“They just don’t care … the amount of damage caused for no gain.

“It seems to be a running joke.”

Club Eastside was also hit, with a four-wheel-drive ramming the loading bay fence at 2am – breaking the fence panelling, a lock, and the locking mechanism attached to the fence door, according club general manager Josh Brigham.

“Once inside the loading dock, the perps used various burglary tools to attempt to smash their way inside the club targeting any exterior door available,” he said.

“After approximately 10 minutes the perps gave up without gaining access to the building.

“This kind of damage and senseless attack on local businesses is incredibly tough to stomach.”

He estimates the damage bill to be two-to-three thousand dollars, depending on the structural integrity of the fence.

Club Eastside is targeted “plenty,” according to Mr Brigham, who said there were “night time visitors weekly almost.”

Damage to Cub Eastside's fence.

“Alarms scare off most attempts, however it is still infuriating and costly for upgrading alarm systems and a staff cost of alarm response,” he said.

Police said that a club on Northside was also targeted as part of the ram-raids, but the thieves did not gain access.

Three of the five stolen vehicles have been recovered, according to police, who said a silver Toyota LandCruiser and a white Toyota Hilux remained outstanding.

“The offenders also allegedly rammed and gained entry into a business on Kennett Crt in Ciccone,” police said in a statement.

Police said the offenders also remained outstanding.

Police are urging anyone with information to get in contact on 131 444 and quote NTP2400053270.