Major police operation brings wild Darwin crime spree to crashing end

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five males aged from 13 to 19 in relation to a wild crime spree across the Greater Darwin Region overnight ending with the combined efforts of Strike Force Trident, Darwin general duties and three dogs from the Dog Operations Unit.

Northern Territory Police Patrol Dog Drax of the NT Dog Operations Unit

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five males aged from 13 to 19 in relation to a wild crime spree across the Greater Darwin region overnight ending with the combined efforts of Strike Force Trident, Darwin general duties and three dogs from the Dog Operations Unit.

Police say a group of alleged offenders attended a residence on Westralia Street in Stuart Park, where they gained entry while armed via a dog door.

Police allege they then stole two vehicles from the residence.

About 1:15am, police received reports of one of the vehicles ramming a residential gate in Moulden.

Police allege residents at the premises were threatened by the offenders who allegedly had a machete and hammer.

Police say a short time later the group attended a government facility where they allegedly attempted to damage the gate and security screens.

The second stolen motor vehicle was recovered in Coconut Grove.

Police said around 3am, the group were observed by police CCTV operators near a commercial premises in Fannie Bay.

They said Strike Force Trident members were nearby and a pursuit was initiated after the group failed to follow police directions and a short time later the allegedly stolen vehicle lost control and crashed into a power pole at the intersection of Nadpur Street and Dickward Drive.

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five males aged from 13 to 19 in relation to a wild crime spree across the Greater Darwin Region overnight.

All of the offenders self-extracted from the vehicle and fled by foot into the mangroves while additional Strike Force Trident, Darwin general duties and Dog Operations Unit members set up a cordon.

Patrol dog Fitzy tracked three of the alleged offenders with the first located hiding up a tree, who surrendered to police without incident. The second alleged offender was found lying in a pool of water in an attempt to conceal himself and again surrendered upon being discovered.

The third alleged offender was found hiding in thick vegetation and was apprehended by patrol dog Fitzy.

Police said another patrol dog, Drax, deployed from the cordon in a different direction and located articles of clothing from the alleged offenders.

With Drax indicating the direction of travel the alleged offender then surrendered to a member of Strike Force Trident.

A third patrol dog Cheeko was also deployed and tracked the fifth alleged offender into thick grassland where he was located hiding in the verge of the mangroves.

Police said the arrests were another great example of the effectiveness of the Dog Operations Unit in tracking and apprehending alleged offenders involved in violent offending and the close working relationship with Strike Force Trident.

The five males arrested, aged 13, 14, 15, 16 and 19-years-old were all transported to the Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment.

Strike Force Trident have carriage of the investigations and charges are expected to follow.