Deck Bar broken into seven times over the Christmas break, with thieves peeing in their fridge

A Darwin bar was broken into seven times over the Christmas break, with thieves leaving behind a foul surprise for hospitality workers to clean up.

Deck Bar worker Aaron Trainor showing how thieves gained entry to the Darwin pub after it was broken into seven times over the three-day Christmas break.

A dozen thieves have broken into a Darwin bar seven times over 72 hours, leaving behind a foul surprise to hospitality workers returning from the Christmas break.

Deck Bar duty manager Sophie Hampton said her Darwin venue was repeatedly broken into over the three day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with CCTV revealing how three separate groups raided the bar of its booze.

Ms Hampton said unlike “normal” break-ins, the holiday burglars did not just smash a front window and grab a few bottles.

Instead she said these thieves used tools to wedge open the back door, meaning the breach was “undetected” until Boxing Day morning.

“It was the worst one we’ve had because they don’t usually damage the property. They normally just break a window, get in, take the alcohol and go,” Ms Hampton said.

“They took the tills of the bar and threw them outside in the walkway next to that bar.

“They took a wee in our fridge and in our kitchen as well.... and there was saliva and stuff on the bar — I don’t know what was happening there.

“It’s disgusting.”

Deck Bar worker Aaron Trainor after the Darwin pub was broken into seven times over the three-day Christmas break, with one of the thieves peeing into the fridge.

Ms Hampton said after being hit twice by the same group on Christmas Eve, another group broke in on Christmas Day, while a different cohort came twice on Boxing Day and finally a man who broke in by himself after Christmas.

“This is all between TPS security coming and going. They were literally missing each other — it was crazy,” she said.

Ms Hampton said whenever the bar was closed for more than two days all of the alcohol from the front was locked away, however over the Christmas break they did not lock their fridges containing the beer, wine and cocktail spirits.

She said the seven break-ins had nicked thousands of dollars worth of alcohol, and some of the food from the kitchen.

Security cameras captured footage of the burglars — some of whom included young children and one group who brazenly walked out with a wheelie bin filled with booze.

Ms Hampton said there were also similar break-ins at Smith St Social and Hotel Darwin over the same period.

An NT Police spokeswoman confirmed that the incidents at all three venues were being investigated, with the Reserve and Deck Bar break-ins believed to be linked.

“Strike Force Trident have arrested one offender and investigations are continuing to identify others involved,” she said.

Deck Bar worker Aaron Trainor showing how thieves gained entry to the Darwin pub after it was broken into seven times over the three-day Christmas break.

Darwin’s party district — including the corner of Bennett and Mitchell street where Deck Bar is located— is meant to be under constant police observation via its CCTV network.

NT Police claims that officers “monitor these cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week”, however with 1000 sites across the Territory concerns over staffing numbers have been raised by both the commanders of the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre and the union.

NT Police claims that officers “monitor these cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week” at the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) .

In 2021 the Community and Public Sector Union highlighted that despite a rapid increase in camera numbers there had not been a boost to staffing levels, while a coronial inquest heard the JESCC hub struggled to maintain staffing levels.

“Police CCTV is not an alternative to commercial security measures and unfortunately the entry point of the unlawful entry was through an unmonitored area,” the police spokeswoman said.

The latest NT Police annual report also found that the clear up rate for unlawful entries had fallen over the past 12 months, with only 38 per cent of the 6501 reported unlawful entries ever solved.

The police spokeswoman said “the broader context and factors contributing to crime rates” needed to be considered in relation to the high rates of unsolved burglaries.

“We are actively implementing various strategies to address the challenges associated with unlawful entries and are committed to improving the clearance rate,” she said.

Ms Hampton said the Christmas burglaries hit the venue as they were recovering from two break-ins just the week before.

“Most wet seasons we have like one or two (break-ins) but on this scale it’s so much worse than last year,” she said.

In 2021 the Community and Public Sector Union highlighted that despite a rapid increase in camera numbers there had not been a boost to staffing levels.

Ms Hampton said for now her staff would be focusing on “recovery, rebuilding and restocking”.

“I think it just ruins everyone’s morale. It’s not nice to feel attacked,” she said.

The Deck Bar is considering having its staff lock away all alcohol after each shift, a time consuming and frustrating extra task.

Ms Hampton said they now had signs warning that there was no alcohol left on the premises, but with a frustrated sigh she added “I don’t know if that works”.

“You literally need someone sitting outside the venue, but we can’t have that.”