Darwin property crime at 20 year low due to impact of COVID-19 lockdown, new police stats show

DARWIN has had the lowest levels of thefts and property damage in two decades, with police putting the significant drop in crime down to COVID-19.

Darwin Commander Matt Hollamby says COVID-19 restrictions have caused people to stay at home, providing a natural deterrent to would-be criminals who would usually target empty homes. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

DARWIN has had the lowest levels of thefts and property damage in two decades, with police putting the significant drop in crime down to COVID-19.

Darwin Commander Matt Hollamby said COVID-19 restrictions caused people to stay at home – in turn providing a natural deterrent to would-be criminals who would usually target empty homes.

“During the COVID-19 period we have had a run of record low months over a sustained period of time, and that has contributed to what is now a record low 12-month period,” he said.

Total property offences are down by 17 per cent from 7181 to 5979 incidents, which is the lowest number recorded in a 12-month period in Darwin, since June 2001.

Motor vehicle theft is at a 20-year low down by 35 per sent from 767 to 497 and stealing in general is down by 22 per cent, which is the lowest number in 20 years.

The figures are compared year on year to November 2020.

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Cdr Hollamby said total property offences were down in Palmerston and Katherine as well as Tennant Creek.

“Alice Springs theft offences are down by 9 per cent, but sadly unlawful entries of residential premises are up,” he said.

“In terms of assaults, sadly, assaults are up across all regional areas in the Territory.”

Cdr Hollamby said alcohol was a key contributor to assaults.

“A lot of our assaults are alcohol-related domestic violence assaults.”

Territory-wide crime against the person is up 17 per cent from 7520 to 8845 assaults while crime against the property has dropped 11 per cent from 21,265 to 18,835 incidents year on year to November 30 2020.

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Cdr Hollamby said the operation in Malak and Karama targeting youth crime was continuing in the holidays.