NT Police arrest Braitling man for eight drug-related offences

A man was arrested south of Alice Springs and his Braitling home was searched by police. Find out what he was charged with.

A teen stole a Tennant Creek man’s piggy bank when he broke into his home.

A 53-year-old Braitling man has been charged with eight drug offences.

Detectives from the Drug and Organised Crime Unit stopped a Ford Falcon 50km south of Alice Springs on the Stuart Hwy at 5.50am on Wednesday.

NT Police said they found about 8kg of cannabis, 1.5g of methamphetamine, 1g of heroin, 45 Valium tablets, an extendible baton, and “items indicative of drug supply”.

Officers also searched his home in Braitling and allegedly found about 180g of cannabis, $4910 in cash, 43 Valium tablets, and more items indicative of drug supply.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne Newell said the supply of illicit substances into the community, particularly vulnerable remote areas, had a devastating effect.

“Illicit substances are often a catalyst for domestic violence and property offences,” he said.

“This was fantastic work by investigators and I commend their efforts in removing this substance from our community.

“Police will continue to proactively disrupt the supply of drugs into the Territory.

“Anyone with information on the supply of alcohol or drugs to our communities can call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

NT Police said the man was charged with possess and supply a commercial quantity of a schedule two drug and other drug offences, as well as possess tainted property and possess/carry/use a controlled weapon.

Alleged piggy bank theft lands teen in court

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after he allegedly broke into a Tennant Creek home and stole a piggy bank.

NT Police Southern Watch Commander Alistair Gall said the homeowner left the residence at 7.30am on Thursday and returned at 2pm “to find he’d been broken into”.

He said a piggy bank containing $400 was stolen from the property.

Watch Commander Gall said officers used the homeowner’s “very good CCTV” to identify the alleged thief and later arrested him.

He said the stolen cash was not recovered.

Watch Commander Gall said the teen was charged with unlawful entry and would be “appearing in youth court later next week”.

Alice Springs woman loses keys, finds car stolen

A teenager has been arrested after she allegedly stole a car from the Alice Springs CBD.

NT Police Southern Watch Commander Alistair Gall said the 17-year-old girl has been charged with the unlawful use of a motor vehicle and “other traffic offences”.

Watch Commander Gall said a woman parked her car on Hartley St at 2pm but didn’t realise she dropped her keys as she walked to work.

“When she returned to her car at about 5pm, her car was gone,” he said.

Watch Commander Gall said the missing car was reported to police, who identified the driver through CCTV footage.

He said NT Police stopped the car at about 5.30pm near Hidden Valley.

“The victim, she got her car back, which was a good result,” he said.

Watch Commander Gall said he believed the car was undamaged when it was returned to the woman.

Alice Springs women allegedly assaulted in violent home invasion

An Alice Springs teenager is accused of assaulting two 70-year-olds over a week and during two allegedly violent home invasions.

NT Police confirmed a 17-year-old boy arrested in a Braitling break-in was believed to have been involved in another violent unlawful entry a week earlier.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Kent said a 17-year-old and 20-year-old were arrested following an alleged robbery of a 75-year-old woman at Andrews Court at 6am on Sunday January 29.

One of the men allegedly threatened a 75-year-old woman with a blunt weapon before stealing her vehicle keys.

Sergeant Kent said police tracked down the pair a short time later, with the 20-year-old charged with aggravated robbery, unlawful entry and criminal damage.

Police allege the 17-year-old was involved in a violent break-in a week earlier, at a Gillen home on Memorial Drive.

Sergeant Kent said it was alleged the same teenager was part of a group of up to four people who broke into the 74-year-old woman’s home at 1.15am on Monday January 23.

It is alleged one of the four men and boys used an edged weapon to break-in to steal her mobile phone.

Police allege the 17-year-old physically assaulted the older woman.

It was initially reported that she was left with minor injuries, however after being taken to hospital it was confirmed the 74-year-old had a broken wrist.

Sergeant Kent labelled the allegations, involving two vulnerable members of the community, as “absolutely disgusting”.

The teenager was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and unlawful entry, as well as causing serious harm, damage to property, criminal damage, stealing, possessing stolen property and a serious breach of bail.

Both the 20 and 17-year-old were remanded to appear at Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.