Karama watch group to patrol streets amid ‘out-of-control crime’
A karate teacher in Darwin frustrated with ‘out of control’ crime in his suburb has started up a citizens patrol group in a bid to keep their streets safe at night.
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A KARATE teacher in Karama frustrated with “out of control” crime in his suburb has started up a citizens patrol group in a bid to keep their streets safe at night.
Crime in Karama has been on the rise for years, and for Nicholas Karpathios the final straw came when vandals broke into four cars within 20 minutes on Tuesday night.
Police were called at around 7pm to reports of vandals smashing in the windows of a car near the Karama plaza and another car on Mahogany St in quick succession.
A resident on Mahogany St said he caught the alleged male offender in the act and chased him down the street towards the Karama Primary school.
Shortly after Mr Karpathios, who was teaching karate class in the school hall, said he came out to find the same alleged offender had smashed into his Mustang and his friend’s Porsche.
“He was still in my car scourging around for a few dollars when I found him,” he said. “I jumped the fence and chased him down the street but couldn’t catch him.
“I went back to my car and called the cops, but while I was standing there, the same guy that I had chased came back and walked past me with a bag.
“I don’t know what was going through his mind. I went up to him and held him by the throat and told him to sit down and wait until the police arrived, but he bolted, and we lost him.”
Detective Sergeant Wayne Newell from NT Police’s Special References Unit said police had not ruled out that the property offences could be linked to a crime spree that happened later on Tuesday night spanning across Karma, Fannie Bay and Larrakeyah.
Mr Karpathios has since set up a citizens patrol group, of which over 20 members have joined on Facebook.
“The crime in Karama has escalated beyond a joke and just seems to be getting worse,” he said. “I don’t understand why there’s none to minimal patrolling by the police in Karama. When they fully know the crime in Karama is out of control. Not to mention what’s happening every night at the Karama shopping centre. It’s a disgrace; you can’t even go to the shop’s without thinking you’re in gangsters paradise.”
It comes after 20-year-old Dillon Willis was stabbed and killed outside Karama shopping plaza last month.
Sergeant Newell warned members of the public to not get involved in vigilantism.
“It’s never a good idea; however, the police run Neighbourhood Watch, which is a good way member of the public can report matters to the police, and they do have the Crimestoppers number they can ring if something occurs,” he said.
“I don’t believe patrolling the streets is particularly relevant. Most people know their own house and yard and that of their neighbours, and if they just look out for each other, that would be a great help to us.”
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