Three teens allegedly held Darwin cabbie at knifepoint and stole taxi

Three teens have been charged for allegedly stealing a taxi and holding the driver at knifepoint.

A TAXI driver was allegedly assaulted and had their cab stolen in Parap this week.

NT Police allege on Wednesday night taxi picked up three 16-year-old boys from Wagaman before heading towards Fannie Bay.

The taxi stopped along East Point Rd where one of the teens allegedly threatened the driver with an edged weapon.

The cabbie left from the taxi, which was then allegedly driven off by the teens.

Police tracked the taxi to Vanderlin Dr where the car was stopped with a tyre deflation, with the trio allegedly running away.

They were later arrested by Strike Force Trident members and the Dog Operations Unit.

All three were charged with one count of aggravated robbery, aggravated unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, attempt to commit an offence and two counts of damage to property.

One was also charged with driving unlicensed.

They were remanded to appear in court on Tuesday.

It comes after another two cab drivers were assaulted in recent days.

Man punched in Alice CBD

A MAN was knocked unconscious during an “unprovoked attack” in the Alice Springs CBD on Wednesday night.

Southern Watch Commander Evan Kelly said a 49-year-old man was punched outside of Roberto’s Pizza on Todd St at 9.40pm.

“In basically what was an unprovoked attack, he was punched and is receiving treatment at the hospital at the moment,” Cmdr Kelly said.

The 49-year-old man is in a stable condition in the Alice Springs Hospital.

Cmdr Kelly said police would obtain council CCTV footage throughout the day on Thursday to obtain a clearer image of the man who struck the punch.

The incident remains under investigation.

Another cabbie held at knifepoint

A CAB driver was held at knifepoint and had his taxi stolen after collecting a passenger from Casuarina in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The incident is the second of its kind in the last 48 hours in the NT.

Northern Watch Commander Josh Cunningham said the ordeal began once the rogue passenger was inside the taxi and the fare was underway.

“During the fare the occupants pulled out a knife and stole his taxi off him,” Cmdr Cunningham said.

“Thankfully because of the GPS tracking we were able to locate it quickly.”

Cmdr Cunningham said the taxi was stopped by using tyre deflation devices but police were still unable to detain him.

“With the CCTV footage inside it and the forensics we’ve been able to obtain from the vehicle, I’m really confident we should have him within a couple of days,” he said.

Cmdr Cunningham said the 25-year-old cabbie was “shaken up” from the experience but would assist police with lines of inquiry throughout the day on Wednesday.

Cabbie held at knifepoint

AN Alice Springs cabbie was held at knifepoint while he had his phone, cash and his taxi stolen in the late hours of Monday night.

Southern Watch Commander Tim Healey said the aggravated robbery began when the 32-year-old taxi driver visited an address in Araluen to collect two passengers about 9.45pm.

The pair allegedly threatened the driver with a knife before stealing cash, a phone, and the taxi itself.

“The taxi was then driven dangerously throughout Alice Springs for about the next 40 minutes,” Cmdr Healey said.

Cmdr Healey said the stolen taxi came to a halt after a tire deflation device was successfully deployed on Bradshaw Dr.

“The vehicle was discarded around the corner on Larapinta Dr so at this stage, no persons are in custody,” he said.

“As I understand he (the cabbie) is in pretty reasonable spirits given the seriousness of the offence – he was not injured during the incident.”

The Alice Springs taxi driver was able to alert police by waving them down while the stolen vehicle was passing.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Schumacher said the car was easy to track down.

“Police were able to track the taxi by GPS, and deployed tyre deflation devices,” he said.

“The vehicle was located abandoned at a nearby shopping complex.”

Cmdr Healey said the incident would be under intense investigations throughout the day on Tuesday.

“We’ll be doing inquiries and following up the lines of investigation, including CCTV and obviously footage from the camera throughout today,” he said.

Police urge anyone who might have witnessed the rogue cab driving erratically around Alice Springs between 10pm and 10.40pm on Monday, to call 1800 333 000.

Alice Springs man allegedly attacks woman with edged weapon

NT POLICE have charged an Alice Springs man, 30, for allegedly assaulting his female partner, 27, with an edged weapon.

NT Police charged the man in relation to a domestic violence matter in Alice Springs 6pm on Saturday.

The victim was conveyed to the Alice Springs Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives from the Alice Springs Criminal Investigation Branch arrested the man who allegedly attacked his female partner a short time after the victim’s hospital stay.

He has since been charged with serious harm and engaging in conduct that contravenes a domestic violence order.

Detective Sergeant David Munro said those who are victims of violence are not alone.

“Anyone experiencing domestic or family violence is urged to reach out on 131 444 or in an emergency call triple-0,” he said.