Police urge residents to be mindful of their own safety as property crime climbs

NT Police have made 22 arrests since last Friday, as the Top End records a major increase in property crime and vehicle theft.

NT Police are investigating two incidents in the Top End that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Picture: Glenn Campbell

NT Police have made a swath of youth arrests after a major increase in property crime, including car thefts, across the Top End.

Over a 24-hour period there were six unlawful entries across the Northern Suburbs resulting in the theft of four vehicles.

Police responded and arrested seven young people aged between 13 and 17.

Another five vehicles were stolen from the long-term parking area at the Darwin International Airport on Wednesday, which all remain missing.

Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said those five vehicles were understood to have headed west past the Daly River community.

Police conducting a forensic investigation of a car that has been stolen in the Darwin area. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The other youth have been taken into custody and have been linked to a number of other property crime events across the past 24 hours,” Assistant Commissioner Wurst said.

“Across the past five days we’ve seen an increase in property crime offending which is extremely disappointing and I know it has caused significant frustration and heartache for the broader community.

“It’s been impacting on business and impacting on homes and we’ve had a lot of cars stolen, however police have been working extremely hard.

“Since Friday of last week, there’s been 31 unlawful entries and a total of 29 vehicles reported stolen, and through the work of our frontline we’ve managed to apprehend 22 different people.

“Since January, Strike Force Trident, detectives in Darwin who support our frontline, have arrested 435 people on separate occasions, 230 of those being youth.”

Three of the youths were arrested after repeated alleged thefts in Coconut Grove.

The thefts which have allegedly taken place since April 27 resulted in two bicycles, confectionary items and multiple items of high value being stolen.

The alleged offenders fled to a service station on Totem Rd on Wednesday where they threatened the attendant with a hammer and scissors.

Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst has urged residents to be mindful of their personal safety.

Police allege they caused significant damage while they stole cash along with other items.

Detectives caught the three offenders, aged between 13 and 17 and took them to the Palmerston Watch House where they were charged with aggravated robbery, theft, shoplifting and damage to property.

Assistant Commissioner Wurst urged frustrated Territorians not to take matters into their own hands as crime levels increase.

“People cannot and should not take matters into their own hands,” he said.

“The reason being people get hurt and more people end up in jail than necessary.

“The NT police will continue to do everything we can to keep this community safe.

“Our demand is extremely high at the moment and the men and women who are out there every day and every night are working very hard.

“I do ask that people are mindful of their own personal security, whether that means locking your car, keeping your valuables out of your car or locking your home or business.

“This is not to blame business owners and residents across the NT, just about managing your own personal risk in the environment we are in.”

Peak hour delays expected after major Darwin crash

Police warn a major crash along a busy Darwin road could cause major peak hour headaches.

Northern Watch Commander senior sergeant Tanya Woodcock said police were responding to a two-vehicle crash on Tiger Brennan Drive at the intersection with Amy Johnson Ave on Thursday morning.

Sergeant Woodcock was not able to confirm how many people were in the vehicles, but said they suffered “non-life threatening injuries”.

She said two outbound lanes were closed heading from Darwin towards Palmerston.

“Drivers are advised to avoid the route if possible and travel with great care in both directions,” Sergeant Woodcock said.

Police were not able to confirm how many people were in the vehicles, but said they suffered ‘non-life threatening injuries’.

The NTPFES incident map said the crash was initially reported at 5.30am.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said all occupants of the vehicles were able to get out of the wreck, and no injuries were reported.

It comes as police deploy extra patrols across the region to investigate after several vehicles were stolen from Top End homes overnight.

“My concern is they may be vehicles driving erratically,” Sergeant Woodcock said.

“These have been observed driving erratically around the northern suburbs and Berrimah area.

“There are extra Police patrolling to prevent and detect traffic offending.”

NT Police investigating aggravated robbery at Coconut Grove service station

About three people are at large after robbing a service station armed with weapons.

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Greg Lamb said the group broke through the doors to the United service station in Coconut Grove at 1.20am Wednesday.

“They threatened staff at the location with a hammer and edged weapon before taking money from the till and items from the store, then fled the scene,” he said.

Sergeant Lamb said police set up a crime scene at the store and were investigating the incident.

He said no one had been arrested in relation to the aggravated robbery.

Meanwhile, police also responded to reports of a disturbance in Moulden at about 4am Wednesday.

Sergeant Lamb said a large group of people were gathered near a residence in the Palmerston suburb.

He said the group was armed with edged weapons.

“We believe a stolen motor vehicle was involved,” Sergeant Lamb said.

“There were also reports of a crash at the location.”

Sergeant Lamb said the incident was being investigated and no arrests had been made.