Youths caught red handed on film shoplifting from Palmerston Chinese restaurant

A GROUP of youths has been caught red-handed on CCTV allegedly shoplifting from a Chinese restaurant in Palmerston. WATCH the CCTV FOOTAGE HERE.

A group of youths has been caught red handed on CCTV shoplifting from the Red Lantern Chinese restaurant in Palmerston. Picture: Facebook/ Supplied

A GROUP of youths has been caught red-handed on CCTV allegedly shoplifting from a Chinese restaurant in Palmerston.

In the video posted to social media, the group is seen initially peering in through the glass door of the Red Lantern restaurant on Monday night before five of them enter the business.

One boy, who appears to be armed with a metal bar, approaches the counter before taking a drink out of the fridge.

Another boy also snatches a drink and the boys appear to run off without paying.

An NT Police spokeswoman said investigations into the incident were ongoing.

“NT Police are investigating a stealing from a restaurant in Palmerston City yesterday,” she said.

It comes after police said a youth crime wave that had plagued Darwin’s northern suburbs and surrounds was being brought under control late last year.

In November, Casuarina police station Superintendent Sean Parnell said since an operation targeting youth offenders began, 19 prosecutions had been commenced and the problem did not appear to have been shifted elsewhere.

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It coincided with an increased police presence in the area to stop petty theft, the smashing of car windows and break-ins reported by fed-up residents.

“We haven’t seen the surge in youth activity that we saw at Karama or Malak appear anywhere else, so from that perspective it would be working at the moment,” he said.

On Monday, the Mad Hatterz Cafe in Tivendale announced it would close indefinitely after being broken into for a fourth time in the early hours of the morning.

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Co-owner Jess Gooley said the financial cost to the business meant it would have to close until further notice.

“This time they smashed the whole side window,” she said.