Numbeo crime index puts Alice Springs 18th in world’s most crime-ridden cities as pensioner details weekend home invasion

Alice Springs has ranked in the top 20 most crime-ridden cities in the world – with one pensioner wondering how much longer she has left in the town after being broken into and threatened with weapons.

Northern Territory police investigate a crime in Eastside, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Alice Springs has been placed higher than a city with one of the most powerful drug cartels in a mid-year crime index – a ranking one pensioner who’s home was broken into isn’t surprised by.

Seventy-five year old Jen* said she was the victim of a home invasion in the Alice Springs suburb of Eastside over the weekend, on Saturday, July 20.

A resident of the town for 50 years, she said the town was “not as safe as it used to be”.

“That’s who they target: women on their own with children and the elderly,” she said.

“That’s who they’re targeting mostly,” she said.

Jen said she has been the victim of four break-ins during her time living in Eastside in Alice Springs.

But the events of weekend were different: this was the first time she was threatened with weapons during a break into her own home.

“They’ve certainly taken a notch up in that field,” she said.

She said three men were in her house, with one of them holding a machete to her, demanding she hand over cash and her phone.

“They were demanding both of those things – I just refused,” she said.

They smashed a glass sliding door’s window to get in – causing thousands in damages – but luckily, her neighbour heard the commotion, and intervened.

75-year-old pensioner Jen was confronted by three armed intruders in her Alice Springs home. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Her kicking up a stink caused the intruders to flee, Jen said, but Northern Territory Police said they now are “investigating the possibility” Jen’s home invaders could be linked to two other alleged home invasions, which occurred in Eastside and Braitling over the same weekend.

A Northern Territory police spokesperson said investigations into the alleged Eastside and Braitling home invasions are ongoing.

“Northern Territory Police are investigating the possibility that the incidents involved the same perpetrators,” they said.

“Investigations into all incidents are ongoing and police urge anyone with information, or with CCTV or dashcam footage of the areas, to contact 131 444.”

A home in Ciccone was also allegedly hit Tuesday morning, July 23, while another home in Eastside was set alight – in separate, unrelated incidents.

The alleged crimes comes as Alice Springs made it into the top 20 most crime-ridden cities – according to online data-site Numbeo.

Northern Territory police investigate a crime in Eastside, Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Numbeo 2024 mid-year crime index by city places Alice Springs in 18th position, ahead of Tijuana, Mexico, at 19th, and just above Cape Town, South Africa, at 17th.

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was given the number one spot, beating out Venezuela’s capital Caracas and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

The Numbeo survey is carried out by visitors to the site, with the site determining results into a “crime index” and “safety index”.

“It’s important to note that the Crime Index provided by Numbeo is based on user-contributed data and perceptions, which may differ from official government statistics,” the Numbeo website states.

The latest Territory crime statistics from May 2024, show Alice Springs had a total of 447 offences, up from 367 in April, but less than the 638 offences which occurred in January.

In May, the statistics showed there were 177 assaults – six of which were sexual assaults – while there were 74 homes broken into, and 32 commercial premises broken into.

But for Jen, seeing how the town has changed over the last 50 years has left her with one thought: “just to get out”.

“I’ve heard there’s a lot of people that have done that,” she said.

*name has been changed

Originally published as Numbeo crime index puts Alice Springs 18th in world’s most crime-ridden cities as pensioner details weekend home invasion