The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested five males in relation to multiple property offences across the Greater Darwin Region area overnight.
Around 8:50pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report that a group of males were allegedly attempting to start a white Toyota Landcruiser located in the staff car park at the Darwin Airport.
A short time later, the JESCC received further reports of the same vehicle being used to ram the gates of the long-term carpark at the airport.
Around 10:40pm, police received reports of a group allegedly attempting to steal a car from an address in Jingili, significantly damaging the vehicle in the process. The owner of the vehicle confronted the group who fled the scene in a white Toyota Landcruiser.
The JESCC subsequently received two reports of stolen vehicles, one of which identified as a Toyota Landcruiser from a carpark at a shopping centre on Roystonea Avenue and the other from an address on Casuarina Drive.
Strike Force Trident sighted the Land Cruiser stolen from the airport on Vanderlin Drive and attempted to apprehend the vehicle. The Landcruiser failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated throughout the Northern Suburbs.
A tyre deflation device was successfully deployed on Vanderlin Drive, Karama before the occupants drove into nearby bushland where they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
The Dog Operations Unit (DOU) deployed and located four males aged 13, 15, 18 and 20.
The males were arrested and remain in police custody.
A short time later, police received intelligence that two of the stolen vehicles were located in a community in Johnston.
SF Trident, DOU and Palmerston general duties attended the location and recovered the two Landcruiser’s and arrested a 13-year-old male who was inside one of the vehicles.
Six remaining offenders fled the area before police arrival.
At around 5:20am, the JESCC received a report that a Toyota Hilux Utility had been stolen from a unit complex in Coolalinga. The Hilux was then observed travelling south on the Stuart Highway with a group of males in the tray.
During the search for the Hilux, a DOU vehicle was rammed by the stolen vehicle before it again fled the scene. Four other Police vehicles were damaged when occupants of the stolen Hilux threw projectiles at police.
The officers inside the vehicle were not injured during the incident.
Investigations are ongoing.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said, “The actions of these individuals are despicable.
“The officers in the vehicle that was rammed were thankfully unharmed, but the outcome could have been very different.
“Not only are these offenders damaging and stealing from hard working people, but they are also driving erratically throughout Darwin, risking themselves and other road users.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to bring the offenders before the courts.”
