Windows smashed, dozens of cars ransacked during Sunday service at Alice Springs church

Hours after police say they placed youths in custody into the “care of responsible adults”, churchgoers exited their Sunday service to find their cars ransacked, and the windows smashed. Find out more.

Jacob Goodlet says his window was smashed on Sunday, August 11, 2024 and his wallet was stolen while he was in Desert Life Church, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Dozens of devout churchgoers received a terrible surprise upon exiting a Sunday service in the Red Centre: their car windows smashed, the insides ransacked, and their belongings taken.

Windows were smashed on about 15 vehicles in the Desert Life Church car park, Sunday, August 11, while more than 100 were inside attending the service, Pastor David Keane said.

One of the victims, Jacob Goodlet, said his passenger window was smashed – the fourth time his car has been broken into in five years.

“I personally had my wallet stolen, and they used a card,” he said.

“I only leave 20 bucks on it at a time, but they used the card at the servo just down in Sadadeen.”

Smashed glass inside Jacob Goodlet's car. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Desert Life Church is located in the Alice Springs suburb of Eastside, with Mr Goodlet believing the perpetrators coming through and smashing the windows “about 11 o’clock” in the morning.

“What can you do about it,” Mr Goodlet said.

“I think the police are already stretched so thin and (there are) so many other, more serious crimes.

“Like a broken window – even 20 broken windows – is a drop in the bucket compared to everything else that they have to deal with.”

Earlier in the day, Northern Territory police revealed they had placed a number of youths in custody, with with two of the youngest being “released into the care of responsible adults”, police said.

The NT News does not suggest the incidents are linked.

Northern Territory police have been contacted for comment.