One arrested after group of youths go on Darwin CBD mugging, stealing, assault rampage overnight

A group of youths went on a rampage through Darwin CBD overnight where they allegedly stole from a store and assaulted staff, before mugging another man on the street while allegedly armed.

UPDATE: POLICE have arrested one youth in relation to two aggravated robberies that occurred in Darwin City overnight.

Cops say four youths entered a service station on Smith Street around 12.15am on Friday and allegedly stole a number of items before assaulting a 26-year-old employee and fleeing the scene.

Minutes later, it is alleged the same group assaulted and robbed a 19-year-old male walking along Daly Street.

Strike Force Trident detectives and general duties police arrested a 16-year-old male in relation to the offences a short time later. He is currently in custody assisting police with inquiries.

Investigations are continuing.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Bland said police would not tolerate “these senseless assaults”.

“Investigations are ongoing and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect the community,” he said.

EARLIER: POLICE are investigating reports a group of youths went on a rampage through Darwin overnight where they allegedly stole from a store and assaulted staff, before mugging another man on the street while allegedly armed.

Northern Watch Commander Wayne O’Niell said at 12.30am on Friday a group of youths went to the United Service Station on Smith St, where they allegedly stole items.

“The console operator went after them. They’ve assaulted the console operator by punching him in the leg, and then taken off down Daly St,” Comm O’Niell said.

“Down Daly St there was a man who just finished work at McDonald’s walking down the road. They bailed him up, assaulted him, punched him in the jaw a couple of times, demanded that he empty his pockets of stuff, and threatened him with a knife.

“He handed over his wallet and his phone, then they took off and they dropped the phone but they took the wallet.

“Later on in the morning we sighted three youths on CCTV footage. They were with wooden poles at that time.

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“Police attended and they fled on foot down towards the back of Crocosaurus Cove, where they jumped the fence there, which was their mistake because they cornered themselves.”

Comm O’Niell said one youth was arrested and two others were released.

“The others have been released with further inquiries pending in that but we have pretty much have the ID of one of the youths and he’s in custody at the moment.”

Police investigations continue into the involvement of each youth.

“Police will confirm the identities of who’s involved in what. The youth we’ve got in custody we pretty much had described by the victim in Daly St.”

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