Police charge three teenage girls after alleged attempted robbery in Katherine

NT Police ‘swooped like a pigeon on a hot chip’ when they spotted three alleged attempted thieves near a Katherine service station.

Northern Territory Police are investigating two stolen motor vehicles. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Three teens have been charged after they were allegedly caught trying to rob a Katherine business.

Northern Watch Commander said Strike Force Cerberus observed the girls – aged 18, 15, and 15 – allegedly entering the OTR service station on Bicentennial Rd at 3.10am Saturday.

Sergeant Molloy said the group were allegedly wearing balaclavas and were equipped with a metal baseball bat and a one-metre wooden plank.

“The Strike Force members intervened and arrested three people before they were able to threaten staff,” he said.

Sergeant Molloy said an allegedly stolen can of Redbull was returned, and was the only item the group had taken.

“They didn’t get a chance to, the guys swooped on them like a pigeon on a hot chip,” he said.

Sergeant Molloy said the group was taken to Katherine Watch House for processing.

He said all three girls had been charged and bail was yet to be determined.

Sleeping woman allegedly attacked by stranger in bed

Police are calling for information relating to an alleged attempted sexual assault in Darwin’s northern suburbs.

An NT Police spokesman said a woman was sleeping in a Malak home about 12pm Thursday when an unknown man allegedly entered the residence and assaulted her.

The spokesman said the man – who is described to be “of Aboriginal appearance with a light complexion and dyed red hair” – allegedly fled the scene.

He said the man was believed to have been wearing a dark t-shirt and long pants.

The spokesman said anyone with relevant CCTV footage or other information should contact police on 131 444, quoting reference number 2400001542.

‘Machetes, swords, crossbows’: Teens arrested after weapon raid

Three teens have been arrested after police foiled an alleged weapon raid on Thursday morning.

Around 5am Thursday, police received a report that three vehicles, allegedly stolen in Yarrawonga, Woolner and Cullen Bay, were allegedly used in a ram raid at a business in Berrimah.

Police allege the offenders entered the premises and stole a large variety of weapons including 10 bows, 300 arrows, five crossbows, multiple machetes, swords and hunting knives.

NT Police seized 300 arrows, 5 crossbows, 10 bows, machetes, swords. Picture: supplied.

Strike Force Trident, the Dog Operations Unit and local police were deployed in Adelaide River where they successfully used tyre spikes to seize two of the motor vehicles.

The third vehicle was found abandoned in Acacia Hills.

Two 18 year olds were arrested without incident and currently remain in custody.

A 16 year old was apprehended by the Dog Operations Unit and was being assessed at hospital but was expected to be charged overnight.

Weapons seized by police following the alleged ram raid. Picture: supplied.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said the operation was a “great result”.

“This is a great result of collaborative work between police and the community who quickly contacted triple zero,” he said.

“The offenders were apprehended within three hours of the initial report, thanks to the quick action of all the units involved.”

Sergeant Motter-Barnard said ram raiders would “be swiftly apprehended”.

“We remain dedicated to maintaining public safety and protecting local businesses,” he said.

“Ram raiding will not be tolerated and offenders will be swiftly apprehended.”

Police urge anyone with information around the incident to contact 131 444 and quote reference P24003671.

Teenager shot with compound bow by alleged serial offender

A teenager has allegedly been shot with a compound bow in the remote community of Wadeye.

On Wednesday, police received reports around 9am that an 18-year-old man was struck in the calf with an arrow, allegedly fired from a compound bow.

A short time later, police arrested a 19-year-old who was charged with recklessly endangering life, aggravated assault, threats to kill and being armed in public.

He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Thursday.

Commander Brendan Muldoon said the alleged offender could face more charges.

“We are expecting to lay further charges against this individual for offending that occurred last year,” he said.

“There is no place within our communities for this sort of violence and the use of weapons such as these is incredibly reckless – it’s lucky the victim wasn’t more seriously injured.”

Commander Muldoon confirmed police continued to meet key stakeholders in the region.

“Police will be attending further community meetings today in regards to the ongoing unrest we have seen in the region,” he said.

“Managing the fighting, domestic violence, and supply of illicit substances in the Victoria/Daly River Regions requires the entire region to come together and work on solutions.

“Police will continue to meet with the community, Traditional Owners, Elders and other government agencies to bring about an end to the behaviour we have been responding to.”

Stolen vehicles used to steal fuel, ram residential gate

Strike Force Trident is investigating a series of incidents involving two stolen motor vehicles spotted in Darwin and Palmerston.

Northern Watch Commander Dan Molloy said one of the vehicles had been reported stolen earlier in the week.

Sergeant Molloy could not confirm from where or when the second vehicle had been stolen because the investigation was ongoing as of 6am Thursday.

He said one of the vehicles was used to ram a secure residential carpark’s fence in Darwin’s CBD about 1am Thursday.

“Once it was reported, Darwin general duties members were at the location in a very short time span,” Sergeant Molloy said.

“The (alleged) offenders who are presently unknown decamped prior to police arriving on scene.”

Sergeant Molloy said Strike Force Trident became involved in the investigation when the driver of one of the stolen vehicles fuelled up and fled from a service station without paying.

He said police had yet to identify the alleged offenders.

Originally published as Police charge three teenage girls after alleged attempted robbery in Katherine