Youth charged – Property crime in Darwin

Officers from Strike Force Trident have arrested a 15-year-old male in relation to eight incidents of property crime in the Darwin metropolitan area between 7 and 24 March 2019.

Two Winnellie businesses were unlawfully entered and damaged at around 4:30am on 7 March. Together, both businesses sustained approximately $6000 worth of damage.

Police believe the youth was also involved in a bag snatching incident which occurred in Casuarina on 15 March.

Three Winnellie businesses sustained damage and had property stolen in the early hours of 24 March 2019. Two of the businesses were unlawfully entered however access was not gained to the third. A fourth business in Coolalinga also had property stolen and damaged following an unlawful entry.

Police were called to a report of intruders on premises at one of the Winnellie businesses around 1:15am the same day. On arrival police located a group of people getting into a vehicle which had been stolen from a Driver address some hours before.

The vehicle drove off and police commenced a short pursuit. A tyre deflation device was successfully deployed which ended the pursuit. The vehicle occupants fled into bush land. Enquiries are continuing to locate the outstanding offenders.

The 15-year-old was arrested by police at a Karama residence around 1:40 yesterday afternoon.

He was charged with:

  • 6 X Damage To Property
  • 5 X Aggravated Unlawful Entry – Building
  • 6 X Stealing
  • 1 X Attempt To Commit A Crime (Unlawful Entry)
  • 1 X Aggravated Unlawful Use Of Motor Vehicle
  • 1 X Drive A Motor Vehicle Whilst Unlicensed
  • 1 X Fail To Obey Direction Of Police

He was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Youth Justice Court today.

/Public Release. View in full here.