NT Police call for firebug witnesses after blaze near Top End school

A series of fires near two Top End schools has sparked a police search for arsonists.

The latest in Top End crime. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Police are chasing an alleged firebug following a series of Top End blazes near schools, coinciding with the start of the fire season.

NT Police is calling for information after reports of small grass fires along Grevillea Road, Katherine, at 6.20pm Wednesday.

Fire crews were able to contain the spot fires, with no reported structure damage or injuries.

However, police are now calling for witnesses in the area who may have seen suspicious behaviour.

Katherine High School and MacFarlane Primary School are both on Grevillea Rd.

Man rushed to hospital after collapsing from stab wounds

May 16: A man has been rushed to hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in his arms, chest, and back.

Northern Watch Commander Scott Lewis said Katherine police attended the alleged domestic violence incident between a man and woman about 9.30pm Wednesday.

Sergeant Lewis alleged the incident began as an argument but escalated when the 21-year-old woman “armed herself with an edged weapon”.

He said the woman allegedly stabbed the man several times.

Sergeant Lewis said the man fled a short distance before “collapsing to the ground”.

He said general duties members who were in the area attended and offered first aid to the man until paramedics arrived and took him to Katherine District Hospital.

Sergeant Lewis said the woman was found and arrested a short time later, and remains in custody pending further investigations.

He said the woman had not been charged as of 6am Thursday.

Police investigate string of Top End robberies

May 16: NDIS carers were forced to fight off a would-be thief when he broke into the care house they were stationed in.

Northern Watch Commander Scott Lewis said two female NDIS workers were looking after three patients in a Katherine care house when they heard a strange noise about 10.30pm Wednesday.

Sergeant Lewis said the staff checked the NDIS home’s CCTV and saw two boys allegedly trying to break into the house.

He said one of the boys allegedly climbed through a bedroom window before approaching both women in an attempt to steal their handbags.

Sergeant Lewis said both women fought the boy off and he allegedly fled the scene.

He said police attended and established a crime scene at the residence while the search for the two boys continued.

Sergeant Lewis said the pair was still on the run and had not been arrested as of 6am Thursday.

In a separate incident, Sergeant Lewis said six children allegedly robbed a Casuarina business about 8.30pm Wednesday.

He said the group allegedly stole cigarettes after they threatened the only staff member working.

Sergeant Lewis said the group was still on the run as of 6am Thursday.

He said another unrelated group broke into a different Casuarina business at 11pm Wednesday.

Sergeant Lewis alleged a group of male adults and children entered the business after one man smashed the business’s glass automatic door.

He said the group allegedly stole a number of items before fleeing the scene.

Sergeant Lewis said some of the alleged offenders returned to the store but were met by security.

He said police arrested three children and three adults but none had been charged as of 6am Thursday.

Alleged sex pest chased off by armed group

May 15: A group of vigilante heroes have chased down a man attempting to sexually assault a teen girl in Darwin, police allege.

At about 12.30am on Wednesday May 15, police CCTV operators spotted a girl, aged between 16 and 18, being allegedly assaulted by an 18-year-old man in Karama.

Police in a statement said another man intervened and confronted the alleged offender with an edged weapon, before chasing him from the scene.

The rescuer was then joined by several other men who assaulted the offender, police allege.

The alleged offender suffered cuts and cruising, and was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.

He currently remains in police custody, and no charges have been laid.

The teen girl was also taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment.

Detectives from the Sex Crimes Division are investigating the incident and asked anyone with information, or dashcam footage, to make contact on 131 444, quoting reference P24131578.

Call for information after alleged alleyway mugging

May 15: Northern Territory Police are calling for information after two youths were allegedly threatened with weapons in a Darwin alleyway.

At about 3pm on May 3, a pair of males allegedly approached the two youths in a Jingili alley and demanded they hand over their belongings.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of Mayhew Cres and Wackett St.

The youths were able to get home safely where they reported the incident to police.

Detectives from Strike Force Trident are urging anyone with information, particularly CCTV or dashcam footage to contact police on 131 444. Please quote NTP2400044211.

Man’s face, neck sliced in alleged weapon attack

May 15: A man who allegedly attacked a 25-year-old with an edged weapon is on the run.

An NT Police spokesman said the man – who they say knew his alleged victim – fled the scene before emergency services could arrive about 12pm Tuesday.

The spokesman said police were calling for witnesses to the incident on Trower Rd, Tiwi.

He said the injured man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital to treat lacerations on his face and neck.

The spokesman asked anyone with information to contact police on 131 444.

Man arrested after alleged bottle threat to bus passengers

May 14: A man who allegedly threatened bus passengers with a bottle has been arrested.

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said the man was allegedly drunk near the Casuarina bus stop at 3.41pm Monday.

Sergeant Rankin said the man allegedly threatened people with a bottle before he fled towards the Casuarina Shopping Square underground carpark.

He alleged the man then backtracked towards the local library.

Sergeant Rankin said the man was arrested and taken to Palmerston watch-house, where he was issued an infringement notice after he had sobered up.

Firearms stolen from Darwin military museum

May 13: A Darwin military museum was forced to close its doors without warning on Sunday after two firearms were allegedly stolen from a display cabinet.

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said the museum’s staff first noticed the missing weapons about 12pm Sunday.

Sergeant Rankin said staff closed the museum and scanned CCTV for the thieves, and found footage of two men taking the firearms from the glass display case between 3-3.30pm Saturday.

He said police – including Strike Force Trident and the forensics unit – attended the scene.

Sergeant Rankin said the men had not yet been arrested.

He would not confirm the type of firearms stolen and could not confirm if the weapons were operable or merely display weapons.

GPS distracted woman in single vehicle rollover, police say

May 13: A woman has been rushed to hospital after her vehicle rolled on the Stuart Hwy.

St John NT Territory Response Manager Craig Garraway said the 41-year-old woman suffered lacerations on her head and arm during the crash at 4pm Sunday.

Mr Garraway said the Adelaide River Health Clinic managed the incident on behalf of paramedics.

He said she was taken to Katherine District Hospital for treatment.

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said police believed the woman had been distracted by her vehicle’s GPS when she veered off the highway and crashed into a gully.

Sergeant Rankin said the vehicle rolled before it came to a stop.

He said passers-by helped the woman and pushed the car back onto its wheels.

Sergeant Rankin said the woman had been travelling south towards Katherine at the time of the incident.

Originally published as NT Police call for firebug witnesses after blaze near Top End school