Alice Springs business targeted by burglars eight times in three weeks

A NT CHIROPRACTIC clinic has been targeted by youths trying to break into the building eight times in three weeks.

A CHIROPRACTIC clinic in Alice Springs has been targeted by youths trying to break into the building eight times in three weeks.

Most of the attempted break-ins were successful.

The clinic practice manager, who did not want herself or the business named, said the first successful break-in occurred on December 30 while the clinic was closed for the holiday break.

The offenders took about $500 in cash and eight sets of spare keys for all the building’s locks.

Security cameras captured footage of the intruders during a subsequent break-in.

She also had the locks changed.

A youth captured on camera inside the chiropractic clinic in Alice Springs.

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“The day we had the locks changed, those kids sat across the road at McDonald’s and made it very obvious they were watching us change the locks,” she said.

“Then that night they broke in again, I guess just to say ‘guess what? Changing the locks didn’t work’.”

The manager said given the practice occupied a heritage-listed building, they had to abide by certain restrictions on installing security infrastructure.

“We can’t drill into window frames, for example. We’ve put in security measures as best we can but obviously they weren’t enough,” she said.

A youth captured on camera inside the chiropractic clinic in Alice Springs.

“The first time they came in they popped off a flyscreen, wiggled the windows around so the dowels popped out and entered.”

By the sixth break-in on January 9, there was nothing left to take.

“They’ve just come in and wandered around. I think it’s become a game for them.”

The manager said during these subsequent break-ins the kids would do things like rifle through drawers and filing cabinets, throw paperwork around the place and drink soft drinks from the staff fridge.

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Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Evan Kelly from Strike Force Viper said police were investigating.

“A CCTV camera trailer has been set up at the location to assist with these investigations and deter further offending,” Sen-Sgt Kelly said.