Break-ins rise by 20 per cent across the Territory, police stats reveal

New crime statistics have revealed that break-ins rose significantly in the past year. See all the numbers.

THERE’S been a 21 per cent rise in residential and commercial break-ins across the Territory, crime statistics released on Friday revealed.

The latest crime statistics from NT Police – in the year up to June 30 – have revealed a continuing spike in home burglaries.

Superintendent Peter Malley said Territorians who were victims of crime most likely experienced unlawful entries.

“The people who commit unlawful entries often have zero regard for the feelings of the homeowner or the businesses,” he said.

“A lot of people take it really seriously. As they should.”

Throughout the month of June 148 homes experienced a break-in and 223 commercial properties.

These numbers bring the total break-ins over the past 12 months to 5674 compared with just 4007 the year prior, a 21 per cent increase.

Superintendent Peter Malley of the Palmerston & Road Policing Division reminds residents to lock their cars and houses with a string of recent break-ins over the past few weeks.

Superintendent Malley said offenders targeted businesses that had alcohol and cash onsite and often entered homes looking for similar items.

“There is a lot of people in town. Most are left over from Covid and some have come for medical procedures and decide not to go home,” he said.

The extra numbers across Darwin have “caused a few problems” for NT Police, predominantly the consumption of alcohol in public areas, resulting in anti-social behaviour.

“We have seen multiple districts join forces to tackle this,” he said.

“We have shown up to locations like Parap where there has been trouble with seven to nine vans.

“This has had a real impact and will continue to do that good work.”

Meanwhile, shocking statistics on road related fatalities have prompted an increase in RBTs, Superintendent Malley said.

There have been 36 fatalities on Territory roads this year, compared to only 24 this time last year.

“Covid protocols meant it took longer to deliver RBTs and that increase slowed down the numbers of RBTs we could complete,” he said.

“RBTs directly link to the road toll.

“Going forward people should expect to be tested especially in the early hours of the morning.”

Superintendent Malley said sexual assault incidents had dropped by 20 per cent with only 22 incidents reported to police across the month of June.

“Whenever you see sexual assault numbers drop it is very pleasing,” he said.

NT’s victims of crime

Nightcliff resident grapples with a recent, violent home invasion

AFTER a violent home invasion a 95-year-old Nightcliff resident was left afraid to sleep in her own bed.

While quietly following her usual night-time routine of playing cards in front of the telly on Sunday July 31, Doreen Creek was abruptly disturbed when a man shoulder-barged down her front screen door.

“I was watching the (Commonwealth) games sitting here playing cards with the tray on my lap and then all of the sudden, boom, he hit the thing and the cards went flying,” Ms Creek said.

“He flew in, grabbed my handbag (from the kitchen bench), which I rarely leave in there, and then left.”

Reflecting on the shocking and unexpected incident, Ms Creek said she still felt comfortable spending the day in her flat but with time, she would “eventually” return to sleeping there.

Four killed in Howard Springs crash formally identified by NT Police

The scene of a fatal car accident on Hillier Rd Howard Springs that claimed the lives of 4 people. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Four men were killed in a brutal single-vehicle crash on Hillier Rd, after a 2006 white Holden Commodore V8 Sedan left the road, hit a culvert and burst into flames on Saturday evening February 19.

The four men were still inside the car when the wreck turned into a fiery inferno.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner previously said due to the extensive burns the bodies could only be officially identified from DNA evidence.

Loved ones of four men said their mates are now on their next journey down the “highway to heaven”.

A 15-year-old teenager is dead after a stolen vehicle crashed on Stuart Hwy near Manton Dam

Five boys involved in a fatal rural crash were not wearing seatbelts and all ejected from the car.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said police were called to the Stuart Hwy crash, 5km north of the turn-off to the Manton Dam Recreation Area.

“One 15-year-old youth has died as a result of that crash and the four other occupants are currently in hospital.”

Northern Watch Commander Chris Harden told the NT News on Monday morning that the vehicle carrying five people veered off the Stuart Hwy and rolled near the Manton Dam Recreation Reserve turn-off.

Monica’s Cafe, The Harvest Press, Creative Jewellers, Warehouse 73 Emporium all broken into

Dawn Sanders standing in front of her business of 30-years, Warehouse 73 Emporium, while holding the rock which smashed her shopfront window. Picture: Floss Adams.

“See that mark there”, pulling up the sleeve of her shirt, Dawn Sanders pointed to a small circular scar on her wrist.

It’s from 12 months ago, when a shoplifter extinguished his cigarette on her bare skin, after he was asked to leave her longtime Darwin CBD business, Warehouse 73 Emporium.

Ms Sanders is one of many small business owners who has been left with physical, financial and emotional scars from the relentless rate of crime in the Top End.

Fannie Bay IGA front door smashed with an axe overnight

An axe was used to senselessly smash the front door of a popular Top End supermarket.

A man was recorded on CCTV at the Fannie Bay IGA using a small axe to break the glass pane to the front entrance of the store.

It is the fourth time this year the supermarket has fallen victim to a mindless act of crime.

An NT Police spokesman confirmed the incident was under investigation.

“NT Police are investigating an attempted unlawful entry at a business in Fannie Bay Place overnight,” he said.