Media release

Call for information – Crime series – Alice Springs

Police

Northern Territory Police are calling for information after a crime series occurred across Alice Springs over the weekend.

Around 3.30am on Saturday morning, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received reports that an aged care facility on the Stuart Highway in Kilgariff had been unlawfully entered by six male offenders at around 2am.

The offenders allegedly damaged the front gate to access the site, where they stole multiple vehicle keys from inside a safe in an office. They were approached by a security guard, who was allegedly threatened by one of the offenders with a blunt weapon.

The offenders stole an onsite white Toyota van which they used to ram through the property gate to flee the scene, during which they allegedly damaged the windscreen of a security vehicle. The van was sighted a short time later by members of Strike Force Viper where it allegedly deliberately drove towards the members, forcing evasive action to avoid a collision.

The stolen vehicle was subsequently located burnt out nearby in Ilparpa and the offenders remain outstanding.

Around 7.15am, the JESCC received a report of a burglary at an animal shelter on Len Kittle Drive in Ilparpa. The incident allegedly occurred the previous evening around 11pm, with an unknown number of offenders gaining access to the business by cutting a mesh fence and forcing their way through a window.

The business was rummaged through, and six puppies were stolen from their cages. The offenders fled the scene and currently remain outstanding.

At 10.05am, the JESCC received a report of a burglary at an aviation business on Davis Road in Connellan. The burglary had allegedly occurred earlier in the morning at around 3am, when unknown offenders forced their way into the office. They allegedly rummaged through the office, gaining entry to a safe and stealing items inside. The onsite plane hangar was not accessed.

It is unknown at this stage if the incidents are linked and the Southern Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating.

Police urge anyone with information about the incidents to make contact on 131 444. Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.