Busy night for Top End police as multiple incidents face scrutiny

Police were kept busy in the Top End overnight investigating a number of knife-related incidents and a ram raid. Read about the officers’ chaotic night’s work.

Top End police say a number of householders will have woken on Sunday morning to discover their cars had been stolen after a busy 24-hours for officers.

Northern Watch Commander Scott Lewis said reports relating to a number of car thefts in Darwin’s suburbs were coming to police early on Sunday.

Officers were also kept busy investigating a number of knife related incidents at the weekend, while licensed premises were also targeted.

Police are investigating a report in which a man was allegedly seen holding a weapon to a woman’s throat in a vehicle in Darwin’s northern suburbs on Saturday afternoon.

At about 2.40pm police responded to a report from a motorist that a male driver was holding an edged weapon, possibly a machete, to the throat of a female passenger in a vehicle in Winnellie.

Two police units located the vehicle and pulled beside it before officers left their vehicle to speak with the male driver.

As officers were walking towards the driver, he allegedly accelerated his car at speed into a police vehicle, almost striking an officer as the vehicle surged forward.

The vehicle then sped off and investigations are ongoing.

Police are also investigating a home invasion in Rapid Creek overnight.

At around 12.30am on Sunday they received a report that five youths had entered a residence, assaulted an occupant and threatened him with a knife.

A number of electrical items including a computer and phone were allegedly taken from the premises as well as a vehicle parked at the property. The man’s injuries were not considered serious.

In another incident, police began to pursue a stolen 4WD in Darwin’s rural area, but suspended the pursuit due to the driver’s behaviour, identifying the vehicle a short time later on another rural road.

Police said they parked a distance behind the vehicle, with the driver then performing a U-turn and driving past the parked police car.

A number of projectiles were then allegedly thrown at the police car, with one smashing the front windscreen of a vehicle and others damaging the side-corner panel and driver’s mirror in the other car.

Bottleshops in two locations were also targeted by thieves. At about 12.50am police said alcohol was stolen from a licensed premises in Palmerston.

Officers responded quickly to the break-in and a person was located and apprehended. At about 5.30am the same premises was broken into again, this time with three alleged offenders detained by police.

At about 3.10am, officers responded to reports of a ram raid at a CBD hotel. Police say one of the vehicles was used to ram into the locked gate and a quantity of alcohol was removed from the premises.

The incident remains under investigation.

Charges after Groote Eylandt thefts

A trio of alleged thieves have been charged with stealing booze and cigarettes from a Groote Eylandt business.

NT Police said the men – aged 20, 19 and 17 – allegedly broke into an Alyangula commercial property on Tuesday.

They said the alleged offenders were charged with stealing, aggravated unlawful entry and serious breach of bail.

They said the oldest was due to appear in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, and the teens would appear in court on Friday.

Remote Sergeant David Hamlyn said police were: “Working tirelessly to recover the stolen alcohol”.

He urged anyone with information to contact 131 444.

“Alcohol fuelled violence and harm has a huge effect on our most vulnerable communities, and NT Police will continue to work closely with community members to ensure the safety of everyone,” he said.

Dramatic rescue after man jumps into Katherine River

Police officers entered the Katherine river to rescue a man clinging to a branch in fast-flowing waters on Wednesday evening.

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Scott Lewis said police were conducting routine patrols when they were alerted to a male jumping off Katherine bridge into the river.

He said police went to the scene where they observed a male in the water below the bridge and immediately called for back up.

He said more officers arrived soon after at which stage the man had been pushed 300m down river and was holding on to a branch in fast-flowing water.

He said police used ropes, with two officers entering the water, to rescue the man, who was then taken to Katherine Hospital for assessment.

A man jumped off the Katherine bridge into the fast-flowing river on Wednesday evening.

In a separate incident, a 16-year-old has been charged with stealing with violence after allegedly punching a bottle shop worker who refused to sell him alcohol on Wednesday evening.

Mr Lewis said two youths about 6.30pm Wednesday entered a business in Darwin CBD and tried to get alcohol.

He said police would allege after the youth were refused service, a 16-year-old male punched a staff member, before stealing a soft drink and fleeing the scene.

He said the police dog squad and CCTV footage helped find the youth still in Darwin CBD a short time later.

He said the 16-year-old was charged with stealing with violence and taken to Palmerston watch house.

He will appear before a Darwin court today.

Overall, Mr Lewis said it was a “pretty quiet night” for Top End police.

Woman charged after allegedly stabbing two people at Casuarina Square

Two people were allegedly stabbed in an underground car park the night before a rally against violent crime.

NT Police have charged a 22-year-old woman with reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, armed with an offensive weapon and breach of bail after an incident in Casuarina on Friday night.

NT Police said a 22-year-old woman allegedly stabbed a man and woman – aged 41 and 29 – at Casuarina Square following an argument in the underground carpark area.

They said paramedics treated the man for his leg injuries at the scene, and the woman was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life threatening back injuries.

NT Police said the incident was domestic violence-related.

The woman will appear before the court on Monday, April 17.

In a separate incident, police said a man was allegedly drinking alcohol in a public place when police destroyed the booze.

They said the man retaliated by slashing a police car’s rear tyres, and he was arrested.

On the same night, police said another woman was allegedly stabbed and killed.

Stolen vehicle linked to string of Darwin ram raids

Police are asking the public for help locating a stolen vehicle linked to a series of business break-ins in Darwin overnight.

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Richard Howie said police were alerted by security to a break-in at the Smokemart on Knuckey St, in Darwin CBD, just after 3am on Tuesday.

NT Police said four or five unknown offenders used a stolen Toyota Fortuner to ram raid the business.

They said the offenders then unlawfully entered the business and took cigarettes.

NT Police said Smokemart on Knuckey St was broken into by four or five people about 3am on Tuesday morning.

Mr Howie said soon after the Knuckey St incident police were called to another break-in at Tommos Pie Shop in Berrimah.

NT Police said a quantity of cash was stolen from the premises before the offenders fled the scene.

They said both break-ins were linked to the same group and a Blue Toyota Fortuner, which was stolen from Palmerston on Sunday, April 9.

Police are looking for a Blue Toyota Fortuner. Picture: Supplied

Mr Howie said the Fortuner had the number plates CE46XP, and asked the public to contact police on 131 444 if they had seen the Fortuna or had any other information on the incidents.

“It’s very unfortunate for these business owners to have to deal with this damage,” he said.

Police said the vehicle may have also been involved in a third attempted unlawful entry on Virginia St, Virginia.

Strike Force Trident are investigating the incidents.