Alice Springs: 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's home broken into for the fifth time, daughter says

As an 87-year-old woman sat in hospital with Alzheimer's, her home in Alice Springs was broken into – again. Now, her exasperated daughter is questioning the future of the town.

A broken window at a home on Hibiscus St, Eastside, Alice Springs, Wednesday December 19, 2024. In the home lives 87-year-old Margaret Moore, who has Alzheimer's, and her carer Meloni Lambert, who say they were broken into again the day before. It marks the fifth time in two years Mrs Moore's home has been broken into. Picture: Gera Kazakov

One Alice Springs local believes “there’s no fixing” the current problems plaguing the town, as her mother – who has Alzheimer’s – was again broken into, this time while she was in hospital.

On Tuesday, 87-year-old Margaret Moore’s home in Eastside was broken into.

Mrs Moore’s daughter Lori said it was the fifth time in two years her mother’s home had been targetted.

“I don’t know what they were looking for, but they didn’t take anything of great value that I can see,” she said.

The aftermath of a break in at 87-year-old Margaret Moore’s home in Eastside. Pictures: Supplied

“They just made a bloody mess and then went again.”

A back window was smashed to gain entry into the home in the latest break-in, with carer Meloni Lambert – who lives with Mrs Lambert – now wanting out of the town.

“This place is so scary, I don’t want to live here no more … I want to leave Alice Springs,” she said.

“I’m done, I don’t want to be here anymore.”

The duo believes the break-in happened sometime between 2pm and 11pm, when Ms Lambert was working her other job at the hospital.

Ms Lambert said it was the second time the home had been broken into since she had been living there, the last happening a month ago.

Blood left during a previous break in at 87-year-old Margaret Moore’s home in Eastside. Pictures: Supplied

“The last time they break in, they break the glass … they cut all the way around the hands and then get blood everywhere,” Ms Lambert said.

Ms Moore said in the previous incident her mother woke to a man standing over her, dripping blood all over her sheets while she was in bed.

Tuesday’s break-in comes as police have ramped up patrols in the suburban Alice Springs, but for Ms Moore – who has two siblings who’ve already left town – it’s too little too late.

“I just don’t know how they can fix it … I think there’s no fixing it,” Ms Moore said.

“I grew up here and it was good.

“I’d love to be gone, but I don’t want to be gone while my mum’s still around.”

Talking to ABC radio on Wednesday morning, NT Police commissioner Michael Murphy said “property crime offending is a priority for us”.

NT Police as approached for comment on the incident but did not respond by deadline.

Originally published as Alice Springs: 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's home broken into for the fifth time, daughter says