Five teens arrested after an alleged violent home invasion in Rosebery and burglary in Darwin

Five teenage boys allegedly used a machete to break into a Top End home, forcing the residents to hide during a terrifying home invasion. LATEST FROM POLICE.

Darcy Fitzgerald

@Drcyftz

less than 2 min read

June 22, 2025 - 1:19PM

The five teens were later arrested in Moulden. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Territory

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Five teenage boys were arrested after an alleged armed home invasion and robbery in Palmerston then Darwin early on Sunday morning.

NT Police said they first received reports at 1.16am that a number of alleged offenders armed with edged weapons had entered a home in Rosebery.

The residents locked themselves in a bedroom before it is alleged the group smashed the door down with a machete and demanded money and keys to two vehicles, a police spokesman said.

“After locating the keys the offenders left the scene and a short time later they allegedly burgled a shop at Frances Bay where they stole a large quantity of alcohol,” the spokesman said.

“General Duties officers attended the Rosebery home and a crime scene was established.

“Members from Strike Force Trident and the K9 unit were also called out before the stolen vehicles were located on police CCTV and tracked.

“Police then engaged in a short pursuit in Palmerston before the offenders stopped the vehicles and ran.

“The K9 unit then tracked the offenders to an address in Moulden where police arrested a 15-year-old male, 17-year-old male and three 16-year-old males.

“Investigations are continuing.”

A glass display door was smashed. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Carol Vallef, who owns the store that was targeted in Darwin following the alleged home invasion, said the burglars had caused significant damage.

“Now we have to clean up and fix the mess they’ve made,” she said.

“It’s a lot of messing around.

“There’s a few thousand dollars’ damage — the glass in cabinet isn’t cheap, nor are the glass doors to the refrigerators.”

CCTV footage viewed by NT News shows a small person slide through a broken window before breaking open a door to let in at least another four accomplices about 2.30am.

The footage then showed the alleged offenders break open a glass cabinet and refrigerator door to steal alcohol.

According to the store owner and CCTV footage, a “super skinny” alleged offender squeezed in through a back window. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Ms Vallef was surprised to get a call later on Sunday from police informing her the alleged offenders had been caught and some of the alcohol returned.

“Fortunately they got caught, which was very good,” she said.

“The police even returned some of the alcohol.”