Katherine crime: Katherine Tennis Club broken into yet again as dozens of businesses fall prey
Katherine Tennis Club is reeling after burglars targeted the volunteer-run organisation for at least the fourth, and possibly the sixth, time in a month. The local MLA says it stands no chance.
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Katherine Tennis Club has been left reeling after burglars targeted the volunteer-run organisation for at least the fourth, and possibly the sixth, time in a month.
An NT Police spokesman confirmed they were investigating a break-and-enter at the clubhouse on Wednesday night.
“Investigations are ongoing with Strike Force Cerberus currently conducting inquires into the matter,” he said.
“At this stage no arrests have been made.”
Police were silent on whether any valuables were lifted.
Online, it was suggested this was the sixth time in the space of a month the clubhouse was accessed unlawfully.
“Devastating for a small local committee and club,” the poster wrote.
Katherine MLA Jo Hersey, who has campaigned heavily on the crime epidemic afflicting the Big Rivers township, said she believed the clubhouse had been broken into four times in the past month.
“It is very disheartening for them,” Ms Hersey said.
“The building is old and is extremely hard to secure.
“They are working on getting a grant to remove the building and get demountables, I think.”
Katherine Tennis Club posted to their social media on July 3 after the clubhouse was broken into twice in the space of a week.
“What a horrible way to start the day,” the club wrote.
“For the second time in a week our little tennis club has been subjected to unwarranted vandalism.”
Pictures on social media showed dozens of tennis balls strewn across the floor, cupboards hanging open, and storerooms left impenetrable due to the amount of gear that had been pulled from the shelves.
It’s understood the thieves were seeking stores of food and beverages, with the club being told multiple times by Katherine Town Council to reduce their risk by not leaving these items in the clubhouse.
Katherine Tennis Club was contacted for comment.
Katherine businesses understood to have been targeted by thieves in recent weeks, either successfully or unsuccessfully, include Katherine Office Supplies, Pine Tree Motel, AJ Couriers, The Coffee Club, NT Technology, Shell Coles Express, Outstation Interiors & Design and United Petroleum.
While Ms Hersey has previously stated a belief that Katherine needed 25 new police officers to respond to the criminal activity besieging the township, NT Police said it believed it had enough capacity.
“The Katherine community can be assured that NT Police have the capability to react and respond to instances of crime and we urge anyone who witnesses crimes and anti-social behaviour to make contact on 131 444, or triple-0 in an emergency,” the spokesman said.
“NT Police work closely with our government partners and non-government organisations to collectively respond to community safety issues and all remain committed to preventing and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Katherine Mayor Lis Clark said more police would “settle things down,” but noted that was not a viable long-term solution.
She said there needed to be more intensive management of juvenile and repeat offenders, and called on the commonwealth government to become more involved in the issue of youth crime.
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