Police from the Property Crime Reduction Unit are investigating a spate of unlawful entries in Alice Springs overnight.
Detective Sergeant Trent Abbott said police received reports of six unlawful entries which occurred in the Gillen, Araluen and Desert Springs areas.
“Four of the reported incidents occurred during daylight hours while the occupants were at work,” Det. Sgt. Abbott said.
“In most cases the offenders are getting into the homes through bathroom or toilet windows or by forcing sliding doors before making off with portable and easy to dispose of items such as jewellery, ipads, and even laptops.
“Because the Modus Operandi is similar in a lot of these cases we are led to believe many of these breaks are being committed by the same offenders. We have reason to believe most of the offenders are young Aboriginal youth aged between 14 and 16. These offenders are targeting homes between Monday to Friday when they can be pretty certain the occupants will be at work. “
Det Sgt Abbott said members of the Property Crime Reduction Unit and General Duties Police had been conducting both high visibility and covert patrols in the areas being targeted by offenders.
“We are aware that most unlawful entries are committed by young recidivist offenders. For instance in the past three months PCRU have submitted more than 50 arrest files in relation to property offences and breaches of bail conditions. These files include 107 individual offences. In the same period three young offenders have also been placed on Youth Diversion and another seven have been summonsed for property offences.
“On average we believe about 20 recidivist offenders commit most of the property crime in Alice Springs. That is why we apply for strict bail conditions when we get them before the courts so we can monitor there whereabouts, but when the offending is occurring during daylight hours it makes the job a lot more difficult.
“That is why we urge members of the public to notify police of any suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhoods and try to give descriptions of suspects whenever possible. Residents should also increase the security on their homes as much as possible to make it more difficult for opportunistic thieves to enter.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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