Former Gunner Government Minister Ken Vowles calls for urgent action to address youth crime across the NT
FORMER Gunner Government Minister Ken Vowles has called for action to be taken to address the issue of youth crime across the Northern Territory
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FORMER Northern Territory Minister Ken Vowles has detailed a brazen attempted break-in at a Tennant Creek business during which kids used an angle grinder to gain entry.
It comes as NT Police statistics year on year to September 30 show an increase of 25 per cent in property damage in Tennant Creek.
However, home and commercial property break-ins are down 24.3 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively for the township.
Mr Vowles, who now runs a consulting business, said he woke up at 1.30am on Sunday to the sound of a grinder.
In a Facebook post after the incident, he wrote: “Went outside and saw sparks flying everywhere across the road (was) a group of young people trying to break into a business,” he said.
“Called police then called out to them to stop doing this shit and piss off & get home. They abused me, threw some rocks at me and run off.
“NOW I’m guessing they won’t be at school today and I’m ratsh*t from lack of sleep BUT I’ll go earn some money so I can pay my taxes so these kids can keep breaking into local businesses.
“This was after I saw some kids steal bottles of coke while I was at the servo earlier in the evening!”
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Mr Vowles told the NT News that action needed to be taken to address youth crime across the Northern Territory head on.
“The kids are taking the piss, that’s what they’re doing, because there’s no consequences,” he said.
“If they put that same effort into their schooling then we would be good.”
Mr Vowles said parents should be taking responsibility for their children’s actions.
He also said elders needed to stand up and lead the way from a cultural perspective.
“We need to keep trying, we can’t give up. We need people to stand up and try and change this,” he said.
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Member for Barkly Steve Edgington said crime in Tennant Creek was getting worse with house break-ins up by 122 per cent since 2016.
“The Barkly has become the forgotten part of the Territory when it comes to crime,” he said.
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