Brat Pack owner George Kalidonis fined after chasing down shotgun wielding thieves

A children’s after school care business owner chased down shotgun wielding thieves in his car after they broke into his home. See why he was slapped with a massive fine.

George Kalidonis leaving Darwin Local Court last Monday after pleading guilty to failing to meet storage requirements after his hunting shotguns were stolen on December 18, 2023.

A Darwin businessman who chased down shotgun-wielding thieves after they broke into his home was himself charged by cops.

George Kalidonis appeared in Darwin Local Court last Monday to plead guilty after pursuing two people in his car after they stole three hunting shotguns from his bedroom.

The court heard that the owner of the Brat Pack, an after school care provider, left for work at 7am on December 18, leaving behind his three sleeping children.

Defence barrister Peter Maley said moments after he left, two strangers crept into his Jingili home.

“Those people must have been watching his home, because they’ve gone straight in and did not realise there were these three kids there,” Mr Maley said.

The thieves were still rummaging through his home when Kalidonis returned.

George Kalidonis, left, leaving Darwin Local Court last Monday after pleading guilty to failing to meet storage requirements after his hunting shotguns were stolen on December 18, 2023.

The court heard the pair then jumped into a car loaded up with stolen property, including the three firearms and ammunition.

The 50-year-old gave chase in his own car, calling triple-0 for help from the police during the pursuit.

Court documents obtained by the NT News said police later recovered the property and firearms, but returned to charge Kalidonis with failing to meet storage requirements.

The thieves did not take the other weapons which were properly secured.

Kalidonis told police he went hunting the day before, and left the shotguns out with the intention to clean them.

Judge Julie Franz heard there were serious concerns about why the firearms were left unsecured in the same home as his young children, aged between nine and 13.

Ms Franz heard this was a “highly unusual case”, which would result in Kalidonis losing his gun licence for at least two years.

On March 11 Ms Franz decided to not record a conviction and but the 50-year-old businessman was fined $1950.