Calendar for crime: Prime times for criminal acts in the NT revealed

POLICE have released new data showing when different criminal acts spike during the week in the Territory

NT Police has released new data showing when different criminal acts spike during the week in the Territory. Picture: iStock

KEEP your wits about you on the roads this Friday – it’s the day drink and drug driving skyrockets in the Territory.

Northern Territory Police has released data showing the number of “driving intoxicated” offences spikes dramatically between 6pm and midnight on Fridays, with 309 offences recorded in 2019.

It’s a noticeable increase from other evenings, such as Sunday nights, when less than a quarter of those offences occurred (65 offences). When it comes to other traffic offences, such as speeding fines, it seemed Thursday afternoon was the time most lead-footed drivers hit the roads, with 143 offences recorded in the timeslot, the highest of any time during the week.

In terms of other crime, make sure you check the locks if you’re heading out on Tuesday morning. It’s the time most residential break-ins occur, with 157 offences reported between 6am and midday.

But be warned: Monday morning ran a close second, with 154 offences.

Monday morning also saw spikes in break-ins into non-residential premises, such as shops and other businesses, and in property damage.

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However, according to NT Police Commander Matthew Hollamby, this may be more related to the crimes occurring on the weekend but not being discovered until the Monday morning: “Crimes are often discovered on a Monday morning, particularly for businesses, schools, facilities that are not open over the weekend,” he said.

A similar explanation could also ring true for non-domestic violence assault rates, which seemingly rise dramatically on Monday mornings. However, Commander Hollamby said this may be due to referrals to police from other social services occurring on Monday morning, rather than the assaults actually occurring then.

When it comes to car theft, Tuesday morning is the most likely time your car will be pinched. There were 147 motor vehicle theft and other offences reported in that time frame.

Wind the clock forward a few hours and on Tuesday afternoon there were half as many offences (69).

And while late night is when many might feel most vulnerable to sexual assault, it’s actually Monday and Tuesday afternoons when the crime sees its highest numbers.

Tuesday had 34 sexual assault offences recorded between midday and 6pm, while the same times on Monday saw 31 offences.

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According to Associate Professor Michael Townsley of Griffith University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, a number of factors are behind the spikes in prime time crime.

“For a crime to occur there has to be three elements in position – a motivated offender, a victim or target, and a guardian,” Dr Townsley said.

“Basically you need all those elements for crime to be possible. If one of them is out of alignment then a crime won’t happen.”