Katherine: service station attacked, staff allegedly assaulted
Staff were allegedly assaulted before cash and tobacco was stolen. Latest.
Northern Territory
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April 4, 2pm: Another Katherine service station has been plundered and its staff attacked, police allege.
Another Katherine service station has been plundered and its staff attacked, police allege.
On Thursday morning around 1.00am, NT Police received reports that a group of youths unlawfully entered a service station on Bicentennial Road armed with edged weapons.
On Thursday morning around 1.00am, NT Police received reports that a group of youths unlawfully entered a service station on Bicentennial Road armed with edged weapons.
It is alleged two alleged offenders’ assaulted staff before the group stole tobacco and cash before fleeing on foot.
It is alleged two alleged offenders’ assaulted staff before the group stole tobacco and cash before fleeing on foot.
The Criminal Investigation Branch are calling for any information in relation to the incident.
The Criminal Investigation Branch are calling for any information in relation to the incident.
The aggravated robbery is the third in two weeks for the troubled town.
The aggravated robbery is the third in two weeks for the troubled town.
Rocks thrown at cops’ face, head in alleged DV call-out ‘attack’
April 3, 11am: Two police officers were left with cuts after a man launched rocks and gravel at their face and head in a wild alleged domestic violence incident overnight.
Northern Territory Police in a statement said officers were alerted to reports of an armed man at an address in Wadeye just after 2.30am on Wednesday.
NT Police said when the officers arrived at the residence, a 26-year-old man allegedly began throwing rocks at police from “nearby bushland”.
A male officer was struck to the back of the head with “a large rock”, police allege.
The female officer was allegedly struck to the side of her face with “small gravel rocks”.
As a result of the alleged onslaught, the officers retreated to their vehicle – before the 26-year-old man then allegedly “launched an edged weapon” that shattered the vehicle’s windscreen.
A 27-year-old woman, the alleged victim of the domestic violence, was found in the home with injuries to her head, after the man fled the scene.
Both officers were treated at the local clinic for cuts and abrasions.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Superintendent Paul Faustmann said the alleged attack on the officers was “unacceptable”.
“The Northern Territory Police force condemn this act of violence and is fully committed to apprehending the (alleged) offender,” he said.
Police investigations into the incident continue.
Those with information are urged to contact 131 444.
Multiple businesses targeted in busy night for Darwin cops
April 3, 8am: Multiple Darwin businesses are picking up the pieces after they were hit by thieves overnight.
On Tuesday at about 6.30pm, a group of offenders stole cigarettes, money and a mobile phone at a premises in Casuarina.
It was reported no one was injured during the alleged burglary.
Strike Force Trident have carriage of the incident and have examined CCTV footage which has led authorities to believe that a ute may have been involved in the theft.
In Parap, a local bottle shop was left in tatters after a group of people became violent towards staff.
In this incident, which also happened at about 6.30pm according to police, violent scenes erupted at a licensed business when a group of at least five people allegedly threatened staff, with bottles being smashed at the premises.
It is understood that the business targeted was a BWS.
It was reported that no one was injured and the Serious Crime Squad are investigating the matter.
In Leanyer, a man allegedly threatened staff with a weapon before stealing alcohol at a popular shopping centre overnight.
At about 9.00pm at Hibiscus shopping centre, the man allegedly entered a store armed with a weapon and is alleged to have threatened staff.
A quantity of alcohol was allegedly stolen.
Later, a 25 year-old man was arrested and charged.
13-year-old alleged ram raider spat in watch-house officer’s face: Police
April 2, updated: NT Police say a watch-house officer received a face full of spit while processing one of the four teenagers arrested on suspicion of ram raiding a Jingili pub.
A group of four teenagers allegedly used a stolen utility vehicle bearing NT Government wraps to gain access to the Jingili Airport Tavern, where they stole alcohol, at 1.19am Tuesday.
The group allegedly stole fuel from a Berrimah service station some time later before driving towards Palmerston, before they were tracked by police units back to the northern suburbs.
Tyre deflation devices were deployed successfully on Sabine Rd, with the four alleged offenders – two 13-year-old girls and a 13 and 14-year-old boy – fleeing onto the grounds of Millner Primary School grounds.
They were located and arrested with the help of the Dog Operations Unit.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst revealed the “string of activity” allegedly commenced with two unlawful entries at Coconut Grove, where two vehicles were stolen.
Both vehicles were recovered, with the second vehicle also being used in the attempted ramming of a business premises, and another “incident at a 24-hour store on Mitchell Street,” Commissioner Wurst said.
A 15-year-old boy was subsequently arrested at Palmerston.
The male teenagers were all charged with “various offences,” while the two teenage girls were released from custody on court diversion.
However, before her release, one of the 13-year-old girls “chose to spit upon” the Palmerston Watch House custody sergeant, Commissioner Wurst said.
The spit landed on his face and clothing.
“Thankfully that officer took precautionary measures and was wearing a mask to prevent being spat upon,” Commissioner Wurst said.
The assistant commissioner described the action as “disgusting” and noted it was happening “every week and at times it would almost happen daily”.
“It’s a challenging job and they do not need to be subjected to that when they’re only trying to do the right thing by that young person,” he said.
Commissioner Wurst said officers who were spat upon were required to undergo a number of tests.
Teens in alleged tavern ram raid used stolen government vehicle
April 2: Four teens have been charged after they allegedly used an NT government vehicle to ram raid a liquor shop and steal fuel.
Northern Watch Commander Brendan Molloy said the group allegedly used the ute to hit the Jingili Airport Tavern doors, damaging the entrance and brickwork at 1.19am Tuesday.
Sergeant Molloy said the children stole a “quantity of alcohol” from the business.
He said general duties members from Casuarina attended the tavern and established a crime scene – complete with a crime scene examination unit.
He said the group allegedly stole fuel from a Berrimah service station some time later before driving towards Palmerston.
Sergeant Molloy said police pursued the children in the ute – which bore NT government signage on its side – and CCTV operators tracked it to Darwin’s northern suburbs.
He said tyre deflation devices destroyed the vehicle’s front tyres and it was allegedly dumped on Sabine Rd.
Sergeant Molloy said the children allegedly fled onto the Millner Primary School grounds but were tracked and found with the help of the Dog Operations Unit.
He said the kids – two boys aged 13 and 14 and two girls, both aged 13 – would likely be charged on Tuesday with a number of property offences and bail would be considered.
Police arrest man after alleged northern suburbs knife attack
March 31: A man is under police guard in Royal Darwin Hospital after allegedly attacking another man with a knife in Malak overnight.
An NT Police spokesman said officers received reports the man had tried to enter a residence on Hands Court at about 8.25pm and was confronted by two male residents.
“An altercation has occurred, with the offender assaulting one of the male residents with the weapon before being subdued,” police will allege.
“Police attended the scene and arrested the 37-year-old alleged offender where he was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital and remains under police guard.
“The male victim was also conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital suffering non-life-threatening laceration injuries.”
The investigation remains ongoing with police urging anyone with any information to call them on 131 444 quoting reference number 24087571.
Meanwhile officers also responded to a separate report of a man armed with a gun at a home in Katherine on Saturday night before it turned out to be a replica.
The spokesman said police arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly assaulting two women at the residence, with attending officers finding him “hiding at a nearby residence”.
“The residence was searched, resulting in the seizure of an imitation hand gun, a less than trafficable quantity of illicit substance, other drug paraphernalia and unsecure ammunition,” he said.
“An uninvolved resident of the premises also had firearms seized as a result.”
The 23-year-old man is due to face Katherine Local Court on Tuesday.
BOY ARRESTED FOLLOWING KATHERINE CRIME SPREE
March 31: A boy has been arrested as police continue to search for his alleged accomplice after a spate of property offences last week.
About 1am on Friday March 29 in Katherine, police allege two males unlawfully entered a residence on Giles Street armed with knives.
Police said the alleged offenders stole a white Toyota Corolla and a red Honda CRF250F motorcycle.
It is alleged the offenders targeted marked police cars that were tracking the vehicle.
No injuries or damage was reported from the incident.
On Saturday, police confirmed that investigators from the Katherine Police Northern Investigation Section arrested a boy and charged him with a number of offences including aggravated burglary, theft, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and going armed with an offensive weapon.
Investigators are urging members of the public who may have witnessed or who have dashcam footage of the vehicles on the night of the incident to contact police on 131 444.
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