Katherine at a ‘breaking point’ amid NT crime rise

As his wife and daughters were on holiday, one dad guarded the house and was forced to save his business. Watch the video.

Niew Wright waited helplessly as her husband, John, desperately tried to save their business.

Ms Wright, 36, had taken her three young daughters to Darwin for a holiday, but Mr Wright remained home in Katherine to “keep an eye out” on both the house and family business after a string of recent break-ins.

Less than a week into their holiday, braving smiles for her girls – Ms Wright received a late night message from her husband saying: “Here we go again.”

Camera sensors had alerted the Wright family that their business was under siege.

“(John) had a quick look remotely and saw there was a group trying to get in, so he put the alarm on but it did not deter them one bit,” Ms Wright said.

“We live close to the business so John just got in the car and tried to get out there as quickly as he could.”

Within minutes, CCTV footage would capture the raw moment Mr Wright’s vehicle arrived on-scene, forcing the group to give up their break-in and scatter on-foot.

Despite Mr Wright’s efforts, the doors of the business were destroyed, forcing Ms Wright and the girls to end their holiday a week early and return to Katherine.

“The crazy thing is, is that everyone in Katherine knows who the offenders are,” Ms Wright said.

“It’s a small town when you’re broken into – whether it’s your house or your business – people tell you ‘hey, I know who that was’ or ‘I know what street they live on’ – it’s crazy.”

The Wright’s business has been broken into before.

Ms Wright said she was frustrated by the “old broken record”.

“If they want to act like criminals, why can’t we treat them like criminals,” she said.

“It’s like an old broken record, it just doesn’t stop.

“I just want justice and I don’t know what (the government) want of me – these people take my money from above me and don’t do anything to protect me or my kids.”

The Wrights are not the first Katherine family to have their festive season ruined after another resident, David Roberts, revealed last week he was broken into four times in three days and it forced him to abandon his holiday interstate.

Member for Katherine Jo Hersey told NT News her town was at “breaking point”.

“Crime is out of control, our community is suffering,” she said.

“Katherine is at breaking point, not a day goes by where there is either an assault, burglary, or home invasion.”

Member for Katherine Jo Hersey says “crime is out of control” in her community. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Hersey said residents were financially impacted by the crime.

“People are frustrated, some have been impacted by crime to the extent that due to the repair costs and insurance, they are struggling to meet their mortgages repayments, sadly others fear for their safety and won’t leave their homes unless they have someone with them,” she said.