Security patrols credited with record low in CBD break-ins as burglaries reach single figures

DARWIN business owners say a security initiative in the CBD has helped reduce burglaries, following police data which shows significant improvement in break-ins

Hanuman owner Jimmy Shu feared break-ins on a daily basis before security patrols started in Darwin last year.

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DARWIN business owners say security patrols in the CBD have helped stem a tidal wave of burglaries as the latest police data shows break-ins are at a record low.

The latest statistics show commercial break-ins in Darwin fell from a total of 32 in July last year to just four at the same time this year, followed by another five in August.

At the same time commercial break-ins in Alice Springs surged to a seven month high of 35 in August, with another 29 recorded during June and July.

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Early last year, Hanuman owner Jimmy Shu was seriously considering closing the doors of the iconic Mitchell St eatery and walking away after a seemingly endless series of break-ins left him feeling “hopeless” about the future.

But since the security patrols started in December and the program was expanded in April, Mr Shu said the restaurant’s long term future was now secure.

“I used to fear it almost on a daily basis,” he said.

“I was always on alert and now it’s over 12 months where there has been a lull in all these activities.”

Hanuman owner Jimmy Shus aid the restaurant’s long term future was now secure since security patrols started. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

Fellow restaurateur Jason Hanna, who instigated the security program through his role on the Activate Darwin board, said the initiative was a common sense alternative to a costly increased police presence.

“The Waterfront’s got no dramas, Cullen Bay, they’ve got security down there, there’s no real dramas there, we’ve just got to fix the bit in the middle,” he said.

“At the end of the day, besides having a personal issue with it, the town had no real future if we couldn’t clean up and improve the optics — let alone the safety of residents and business owners in the city.

“You’re never going to stamp it out completely but it’s about having a presence and being a deterrent and more importantly, if we look at it holistically, we need more residents to want to live in and activate the city.”

The drop in burglaries coincided with a spike in non-domestic drunken violence in Darwin, which surged to more than 150 incidents between June and August.

Restaurateur Jason Hanna said the initiative was a common sense alternative to a costly increased police presence. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Mr Hanna said punters “went a bit crazy” when coronavirus lockdowns were eased earlier in the year but it seemed to have settled down since then.

An NT Police spokeswoman refused to comment on the spike in violence and would not be drawn on whether the problem had been shifted elsewhere after officers complained about drinkers at East Point.

But Darwin Commander Matt Hollamby said anti-social behaviour in Darwin had “decreased in recent months for a variety of reasons”.

“Private security in the CBD has played a part in reducing anti-social behaviour and NT Police values their contribution,” he said.

“We hope to continue this partnership into the future.”

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A Territory Government spokeswoman said discussions around the program’s future were ongoing and would “depend on the availability of funding”, which it provides jointly with the City of Darwin.

“The primary purpose of this service is to reduce the impacts of anti-social behaviour, as part of Activate Darwin’s objective of making Darwin city a more vibrant and enjoyable place for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

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