Adriaan Gerritsen describes the moment stolen car crashed into his Driver home
A long-term Territorian has described the distressing moment he realised an overnight ‘bang’ was not a late firework, but a stolen car crashing into his fence. See the CCTV footage.
Police & Courts
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A house should be a haven, but waking up to find a stolen car against his fence has left Adriaan Gerritsen’s sense of safety shaken.
The long-term Territorian said he had lived in his Driver home for about 25 years and said the neighbourhood was once a “good” place to raise a family.
When he woke to a loud “bang” about midnight on July 9, he thought it was a firework leftover from Territory Day and went back to sleep.
It wasn’t until morning that Mr Gerritsen discovered a car had destroyed the front of his fence in a collision, costing his family about $2000 in repairs.
With the help of CCTV over his house, he pieced together what had happened – including the moment two people got out of the car and fled the scene.
“I know what time it happened, then about half an hour later an ambulance showed up at my house,” he said.
“Somebody must have called in, then an hour after that incident the police showed up.”
Mr Gerritsen said he was later visited by a woman who claimed police had found her stolen car outside his home.
He said she was “distraught” to see her car, which had significant damage to its front.
“She was very sad about it,” he said.
NT Police’s Palmerston OIC said cops received notice of the crash about 12.40am.
“Around an hour later, police located a red Toyota Camry sedan,” they said.
“The vehicle had mounted the curb and collided with a fence before being abandoned.
“Enquiries determined that the vehicle had been stolen on 6 July 2024 from a residence in Coconut Grove.
“Investigations are continuing in relation to the matter.
“Anyone with information is urged to contact Police on 131444 and quote reference NTP2400066054.”
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