NT Police arrest man for series of assaults, thefts at Casuarina Shopping Centre

NT Police have arrested the final offender alleged to be involved in a series of assaults and thefts at a popular Top End shopping centre almost three months ago.

NT Police have arrested the final alleged offender involved in a series of assaults and alcohol theft at Casuarina almost three months after the incident.

The three offenders allegedly threatened security guards with knives and assaulted multiple people at the Casuarina Shopping Centre on October 20.

They then allegedly fled with stolen alcohol, though police caught and arrested a 19-year-old at the scene while the others managed to get away.

Police identified the remaining alleged offenders by coordinating with remote police stations across the Top End, and a second 19-year-old was arrested in Wurrimiyanga in November.

He was charged with aggravated robbery, stealing and assault a worker, and alongside the first offender remains before the courts.

Serious Crime detectives found and arrested the 25-year-old man in Malak on Thursday, and have since charged him with aggravated robbery and five counts of aggravated assault.

He was remanded to appear in the Darwin Local Court on Friday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Kren said the arrest had been made following extensive efforts from general duties officers and the Serious Crime Squad.

“Investigations into serious incidents don’t stop until we have all offenders before the courts and it doesn’t matter much time has passed, we will eventually catch up with you,” he said.

Police urge the public to report crime and anti-social behaviour to 131 444 or in an emergency to call Triple Zero.

Woman suffers severe head injury after bottle lobbed on New Year’s Eve

Police are calling for witnesses after a woman was severely injured by a bottle in Darwin City on New Year’s Eve.

Between 9pm and 10pm the 27-year-old was struck in the head by the bottle while outside a complex on Knuckey Street.

The bottle is believed to have been thrown from a high level within the vicinity of the Mantra Pandanas, a 28-storey hotel on the street.

St John Ambulance paramedics provided medical attention before taking her to the Royal Darwin Hospital.

Any witnesses or people with information about the incident are encouraged to contact police on 131 444 or provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

NT Police investigating after fentanyl, ketamine stolen from Katherine vet, health clinic

Bandits have made off with fentanyl and ketamine following a smash-and-grab raid of a vet clinic and health facility.

NT Police have urged the public to come forward with information after the Katherine Wurli Health Services and Katherine Veterinary Clinic were broken into on Wednesday morning.

Investigators believe that about 2.30am a trio of unknown offenders broke into the two businesses on Second St, Katherine.

Police said various items were taken, including quantities of fentanyl and ketamine.

Three persons of interest were seen heading north across the Katherine Bridge along the Stuart Highway an hour after the break-in.

Police warned the community that stolen drugs “particularly fentanyl pose an extreme danger”.

“Fentanyl is designed to be absorbed into the body through various means, including transdermal transmission — through the skin,” a spokesman said.

NT Police told the public that if they thought they had come into contact with the fentanyl and ketamine, to call triple-0 “immediately” and seek medical attention.

medical experts have repeatedly said the risk of an fentanyl opioid overdose was extremely unlikely from brief, unintentional exposure.

However, medical experts have said the risk of an fentanyl opioid overdose was extremely unlikely from brief, unintentional exposure.

A 2021 International Journal of Drug Policy research paper found that while there had been hundreds of accounts of first responders reporting an overdose after accidental fentanyl contact, their symptoms tended to match panic or anxiety attacks.

There were no confirmed cases of an officer having an overdose after touching fentanyl.

Windows smashed: Staff inside as youths throw rocks at servo

January 10: Police are investigating an incident at Katherine OTR overnight in which four youths used rocks to attempt to break open the doors.

Shortly after 2am, a group of youths were seen loitering outside the premises when they began throwing rocks at the windows.

When they couldn’t access the premises, the youths left the site.

Police attended and investigations are ongoing.

An OTR spokeswoman said two staff were present and a guard was onsite when the incident occurred.

An OTR spokeswoman said two staff were present and a guard was onsite when the incident occurred.

“Staff followed protocol and police attended the site,” she said.

“[The] welfare of our staff is our primary concern, and both team members were supported and offered counselling.”

No one was injured during the raid and nothing was stolen.

The OTR’s doors were repaired this morning, and the store is trading.

In July, OTR unveiled a $500,000 upgrade and rebrand at the old Caltex service station on Bicentennial Road.

Spear brandishing, rock throwing: Two arrested after separate assaults

January 9, 2pm: NT Police have made two arrests following a pair of unconnected assaults on police officers across the Territory within 24 hours.

Officers first responded to reports of damage at a facility in a remote East Arnhem community around 3.30pm Monday.

The man alleged to have caused the damage aggressively approached officers on arrival with a makeshift spear and rock.

Police further allege the man then tried to assault an officer, and failed to obey directions, forcing the officer to deploy their taser.

He was arrested and charged with assault police and remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on January 11.

In a separate incident that evening, police arrested a 13-year-old in relation to a stolen motor vehicle in the Alice Springs suburb of Gillen.

Police allege the youth threw rocks at officers and their vehicle during the incident, with one officer suffering a minor injury.

The youth was arrested and will appear in court at a later date.

Acting Assistant Commissioner James Gray-Spence said it was “deeply concerning” when officers were assaulted while doing their duty.

“I condemn violent behaviour directed at police officers,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Gray-Spence said.

“Our police know the community expects their officers to be safe and I thank our community for their continued support.

“We continue to urge the public to immediately contact police if you observe crime or anti-social behaviour on 131 444 or triple-0 in an emergency.”

Man arrested after locking elderly man inside pub toilets

A 27-year-old man has been charged after an aggravated robbery in a Top End pub last week.

Police from Serious Crime and Dog Operations Unit arrested the man at a Nightcliff residence on Friday without incident.

A 77-year-old man was the victim of the terrifying incident on Thursday afternoon.

It is understood the man took out a 30cm knife and demanded money from the 77-year-old before forcing him inside a cubicle and locking the door.

A 77-year-old man was robbed in the bathrooms of the licensed venue on Camphor St in Nightcliff. Picture: Che Chorley

The 77-year-old man was not injured in the incident.

Police said the man then fled the premises with a large sum of money.

He was charged with aggravated robbery and deprivation of liberty and will appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday.

NT Police thanked the members of public who helped with the arrest through providing information to 131 444.

It comes less than a month after 85-year-old Darwin grandmother Despina Politis was assaulted in the carpark of the same venue in an unrelated incident.

A 19-year-old woman was charged with robbery and bailed to appear in Wadeye Court on January 16 in relation to the December 6 incident.