‘Disgusting behaviour’: Group of youths smash their way into petrol station, ransack it while staff member inside

NT police say they have dealt with a night of ‘disgusting behaviour’ after a group of youths allegedly smashed their way into a petrol station and ransacked it while a staff member was working.

The Alice Springs Puma service station missing its front door after it was smashed overnight. Picture: Jasmine Burke

NT police say they have dealt with a night of “disgusting behaviour” after a group of youths allegedly smashed their way into an Alice Springs petrol station and ransacked it while a staff member was working.

Commander Craig Laidler said just before 5am on Wednesday morning a group of youths allegedly smashed the Puma Service Station glass door with rocks before allegedly stealing food and drinks and “throwing things at the console operator”.

A group of youths allegedly smashed their way into an Alice Springs petrol station overnight and ransacked it while a staff member was working. Picture: Jasmine Burke

“At this point in time, we’ve got a 15-year-old in custody, who’s a person that’s known to police, and we have found three other suspects that we’re looking for at the moment,” he told ABC radio.

Commander Laidler described the youths’ behaviour as “disgusting”.

“This is someone who’s just trying to go to work and make a living, they shouldn’t have to put up with this,” he said.

“There was a large group between 15 and 30 walking around.

“But as for the ones that we’re dealing with from the store, we’ve got one in custody and there’s three other suspects that we’re looking at in total at the moment.

“I believe we know who we’re looking for.”

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He said there were two separate incidents at the Puma station overnight, with an initial incident at 3am before a further incident – the main one – around 4.45am.

“It is still under investigation.

“We have an ID for (the) offender from the one at three o’clock so we’re actually currently looking for that person as well.”

He said investigations were underway to see if the two incidents were linked.

Additionally, police arrested four youths who were found because of suspicious behaviour in people’s yards, who have been taken into custody.

“The really disappointing part is we’ve got two 13-year-olds and a 15- and a 16-year-old, all of them with very limited (criminal behaviour) history so we need to try and get them onto the right path.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444.

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