Primary school kids running amok around Darwin CBD businesses: Police

A service station — which has been targeted up to five times a week by the same offenders — is among businesses besieged by a rampant group of unsupervised schoolchildren running amok in the Darwin CBD.

Police are viewing footage of primary school kids running amok in Darwin CBD.

THE United service station, on Smith St, is among businesses targeted by a rampant group of unsupervised schoolchildren running amok in the Darwin CBD.

The service station has been targeted up to five times a week by the same group.

The fuel station was hit by young thieves on Thursday

The station manager, who could not be named, was filing a police report.

The children, aged from 11 to 13, have been terrifying neighbouring businesses near Smith St incessantly for several weeks.

NT Police has viewed CCTV footage of the youths, who are also causing disturbances in food outlets that has led to several counts of theft.

Police Commander Matthew Hollamby said a number of the incidents that were raised by affected businesses were cause for concern.

“There has been a group of youths, intermittently active within the CBD area over the last month,” Cdr Hollamby said. Vision was released publicly this week, showing an incident from a month ago.

The police mobile unit outside the United service station corner of Smith St.

Strike Force Trident and general duties members have identified eight youths.

Police said they had already engaged with parents or guardians of nearly all of the youths for their “behavioural-related issues”.

The youths were already known to police and there was “no evidence” they had relocated to reside in the CBD.

The alleged offenders have been identified as normally congregating around the Casuarina shopping area.

Police are still confident they have curbed the group’s activities that have crossed the line into low-level crime.

“Strike Force Trident, in conjunction with the local police divisions, will continue to be dynamic and respond to changing trends in youth activity. When offences have been reported/identified, they have been appropriately dealt with by way of charges or diversion,” Cdr Hollamby said.

But the same hit-and-grab raids have cost the fuel station about $50 each time.

Staff have been told to stay behind the counter and not attempt to stop the thefts at the front door for their own safety, following one incident, which was also captured on CCTV, of youths physically assaulting a lone worker.

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At least three other food outlets have been targeted.

Witnesses have seen the youths pegging rocks towards people entering Domino’s.

Both property damage and smashed car windows have been reported to police.

CCTV footage released by one business shows an elderly man being attacked by the same group of youths.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said youth crime was getting out of control.

“We’ve heard of increased numbers of youth offenders roaming the streets, abusing swearing at people and, of course, causing destruction.

“What we really need is a government that’s willing to tackle this issue head-on.”

A spokesman for Chief Minister Michael Gunner has defended its platform on youth crime. “There is no silver bullet or quick fix when it comes to crime. It’s just constant hard work,” he said.

“The Labor government has done more to address the root cause of crime and break generational disadvantaged cycles than any other government in Territory history.”