Police worried as compound bows stolen from Darwin outdoor store

Police are looking for a Toyota Land Cruiser used in a ram raid that saw a cache of weapons stolen. Read what happened.

A group of men are armed, dangerous and heading south after a break-in at a Darwin camping and outdoor store early Saturday morning.

Police said a double ram-raid at Camping World and Compleat Angler on the Stuart Highway, Berrimah was followed by the theft of three compound bows and up to 100 arrows in a lightning raid on the premises.

Watch commander Acting Senior Sergeant Theo Karamanidis said about 4am on Saturday a white Toyota Land Cruiser ram raided the rear gates at Camping World’s Pruen Road entrance.

They drove into a roller door attached to the showroom and smashed their way in through the glass front entrance using a crowbar, which they left behind.

Compound bows and other bows and arrows will be removed for good.

Police believe the smash-and-grab was targeted.

“They’ve rammed the roller door and driven off after they’ve got what they wanted,” he said. “They were only in the store for a couple of minutes.”

He acknowledged the potential uses for the weapons were a concern to police, with Strike Force Trident officers investigating the raid and expected to make arrests.

The offenders, described as Aboriginal in appearance, were last seen driving south along the Stuart Highway.

The Camping World-Compleat Angler and Mower World complex has been owned by the Thomas family since 1989, with the outdoor stores operating since about 2008.

Thieves first entered after smashing through the rear gates.

The stolen items were valued around $4000, with the damage bill from the forced entry totalling about $20,000

Owner Kevin Thomas said this was the third break-in since 2020, with knives previously been stolen

At commencement of trading Saturday morning, he said bows-and-arrows would be removed from the store.

“They’re more trouble than they are worth,” he said.

“They came straight through the door to them. They didn’t go anywhere else other than to check the till, but there’s no money in the till.

Camping World’s Kevin Thomas at the smashed front door.

“We’ll see if one of stores down south want them first, failing that we’ll remove them from the store and smash them so they can’t be used. It’s as simple as that.

“What choice do I have? They scoped the place, they came, they looked and they knew what they were going for. Get rid of what they’re going for and hopefully they don’t come back.

They will (come back), but hopefully they don’t.”

Mr Thomas said after the 2020 breakins he was angry and upset.

This time he has put it down to one of many challenges of doing business in the Territory.

A resident of the Territory since 1969, he said the past 20-years had seen a substantial shift in the character of the place.

“The Territory’s changed,” he said.

“It’s not the same place I grew up in. I’ve been here since 1969 and it’s definitely more crime prone.

“The latest generation of thieves have no respect for anyone or anything. They’ve got a brilliant criminal mind and if they only put that into something worthwhile, the Territory would be a lot better.”

Originally published as Police worried as compound bows stolen from Darwin outdoor store