NT Police wasted precious resources overnight after receiving two hoax calls in Darwin and Alice Springs.

The first offender called the Alice Springs Police at about 12:25am stating there was a bomb at Bojangles Saloon and Dining Room before hanging up. Police and the Fire and Rescue Service attended the location and deemed the premises safe a short time later.

It was determined the call came from a nearby pay phone.

Police conducted patrols of the area, however, were unable to locate the offender.

The second hoax caller phoned Darwin Police at about an hour later stating there was a bomb at Cazalys Restaurant in Palmerston. Again, Police and the Fire and Rescue Service attended however deemed the scene safe a short time later.

Duty Superintendent Daniel Shean said it was disappointing to see people wasting the valuable time and resources of the emergency services.

"Often when hoax calls are made by disgruntled customers and the stupidity in making the call creates a concern for the venue and police.

"If a venue is evacuated there are financial impacts on the venue; irrespective as to how the venue responds to the incident, police, fire and St Johns Ambulance generally all respond - the time taken to work out that the call is a hoax reduces our ability to respond to a real life incident where preservation of life is essential".

"Persons found causing such a hoax could find themselves in Court for a number of offences under the Criminal Code Act; at the minimum a person could be prosecuted for making a false report to police under the Summary Offences Act - the maximum penalty is $11,000 fine or 2 years imprisonment" Superintendent Shean said.

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