Mapped: Crime stats reveal the most dangerous place to live in the Northern Territory

Crime statistics reveal the most dangerous place to live in the Northern Territory. Find out how your suburb or region compares to the rest of the Top End.

Tennant Creek is the most dangerous region in the Northern Territory according to statistics, as crime levels continue to rise in most areas.

Police data analysed by the NT News revealed the number of crimes per 100,000 residents throughout the Territory’s regions.

Tennant Creek had the most police reports per capita in each crime category, with the exception of motor vehicle theft.

Alice Springs had the most stolen vehicles with 1621.4, per 100,000 residents.

Police received 322 reports of assault in Tennant Creek from June 2021 to June 2022 at a rate of 9184.3 assaults per 100,000 residents.

Comparatively, Darwin experienced 2414 assaults across the same time period, which equates to only 2783.1 assaults per 100,000 residents.

Tennant Creek recorded an alarming 21 per cent rise in reported assaults over the past four years from 266 assaults in 2019.

However, it was the Alice Springs region which experienced the biggest jump in assault reports from 1415 assaults in 2019 to 2186 in 2022 – a 54.49 per cent rise.

Home break-in reports also surged by 63.39 per cent in the Red Centre, from 631 in 2019 to 1031 in the past 12 months.

An Alice Springs worker, who did not want to be named, told the NT News she no longer felt safe living in the regional town.

“I moved to Alice Springs in 2009 and back then the crime was definitely not as bad,” she said.

“It used to be that you wouldn’t go outside after dark but now I don’t even feel safe walking around in broad daylight.

“It has gotten so bad I think we should bring in the army and have a curfew.”

The 45-year-old manager said her store had been the victim of crime twice in recent months, with windows of the store and her own car being smashed on May 28 and July 2 respectively.

“Any business in the mall could give you a similar story,” she said.

“We have been broken into several times, windows smashed, vandalised. It is a constant battle.

“Police were sending through more patrols recently which helped but as soon as they leave, the crime comes back.”

NT Police said patrols attended both incidents in May and July but the culprits were unable to be identified.

Australian Research Council PhD candidate Jenna Mizzi spoke with men and women in NT prisons, including inmates from Alice Springs and Tennant Creek, for her Flinders University research project ‘Reducing Aboriginal Imprisonment: An offence Specific Study’.

Ms Mizzi said participants who had struggled to “stay on the right path” attributed a lack of “fundamental basics” to why they reoffend.

“People spoke of not having fundamental basics, a main one being suitable housing. People stay with family who are already living in overcrowded houses. This puts families under a lot of stress,” she said.

“Also not being able to access appropriate support services, particularly Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and mental health supports was a contributing factor.

“People go to prison and return to the same socio-economic disadvantaged conditions. We need to invest in communities.”

Ms Mizzi said in her research Aboriginal organisations “stressed the need to take a holistic approach to community safety and include families, local governance and cultural structures in decisions and solutions”.

The Department of Correctional Services was contacted for comment.

Police statistics revealed a shocking increase in crime across the whole Territory which recorded 35,042 total crime reports over the past 12 months compared to only 29,485 in 2019.

Neighbourhood Watch NT northern executive officer Ashleigh Ascoli encouraged all Territory residents to complete the organisations ‘How safe is my place?’ assessment which helps Territorians to evaluate the “security levels in and around their property”.

“We recognise people get busy and we can become easily distracted but it’s important to stop and take a moment to become aware of your surroundings.

“There are simple measures to take which can be the most effective in preventing opportunistic crime.”

In 2021, 26 per cent of home break-ins in the Northern Territory were into an unlocked or unsecured premises.

It comes as Neighbourhood Watch NT and NT Police announced a revitalised Stop. Look. Lock. campaign last month which demonstrated just how quickly an opportunistic crime can occur and the simple measures which can be taken to minimise the risk.

The Neighbourhood Watch NT website outlines a number of ways to keep your home and family safe.

“Securing your home is the easiest and best way to prevent crime. Ensure your home is locked, even when you are there.”

“Keep your valuables and car keys in a secure location away from the front of the house.

“Your neighbours can be your number one crime prevention tool and connecting with them can help to create safer and happier Territory neighbourhoods.”

When it comes to personal safety, Neighbourhood Watch NT recommended everyone remained aware of their surroundings at all times.

“Situational awareness is the process of being aware of your surroundings and being alert to any potential safety threats,” the site read.

“Enjoying a night out shouldn’t mean that your safety is compromised. Plan your night ahead of time by taking your ID with you, organising a designated driver and letting your friends and family know where you are headed.”