Northern Territory Police have charged two males following multiple alleged unlawful entries which occurred throughout Katherine, Palmerston and Adelaide River.
It is alleged that the two males, aged 16 and 17, attended a school in Katherine around 7:30pm on 10 March 2019, causing severe damage to the building following unsuccessful attempts to gain entry.
They attended a second school around 7:55pm on 12 March 2019. Once inside, they stole a quantity of cash. They then returned to the first school where their attempts to gain entry were thwarted by security alarms.
The 17-year-old attended a Katherine hotel around 1:00am on 13 March with co-offenders. They broke into the premises and stole a quantity of alcohol before being confronted by an employee at the location. The 17-year-old threw a carton of beer at the employee to avoid apprehension which caused the employee to sustain head injuries.
The 17-year-old attended a third school where another co-offender forced entry. No items were stolen in this instance. He later went to another business where he and the 16-year-old forced entry and stole a quantity of alcohol.
Later that evening, the 17-year-old unlawfully entered a car dealership in Katherine where he stole a vehicle using keys he located at the premises. The vehicle was driven through the locked entrance gates before being abandoned at the Katherine Low Level Bridge.
Another car dealership was entered around 12:50am on 16 March in Palmerston.
Once inside, the 16-year-old and 17-year-old stole numerous car keys and a vehicle. They exited the compound through the main entrance gate at speed.
Approximately two hours later, a licensed premises in Palmerston had a quantity of alcohol stolen following an unlawful entry.
On the same morning in Adelaide River, offenders unlawfully entered a licensed premises where they stole a number of items at approximately 3:20am.
Police observed a heavily intoxicated male driving a stolen vehicle with two passengers at Jasper Gorge on the Buchanan Highway around midday the same day. Timber Creek Police commenced a pursuit when the vehicle failed to stop.
The stolen vehicle sustained a blown tyre which caused the vehicle to slow down. The driver and one passenger jumped out of the moving vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. A tyre deflation device was deployed in front of the vehicle to prevent it from travelling further.
Police apprehended all three vehicle occupants following a short foot pursuit. They were arrested and conveyed to the Katherine Watch House where they were charged yesterday.
The 16-year-old male was charged with:
- 8 x unlawful entry - building
- 9 x damage to property
- 7 x stealing
- 1 x attempt unlawful entry - building
- 1 x unlawful use of motor vehicle
The 17-year-old was charged with:
- 8 x unlawful entry - building
- 6 x damage to property
- 6 x stealing
- 1 x attempt unlawful entry - building
- 1 x unlawful use of motor vehicle
- 1 x aggravated unlawful use of motor vehicle
- 1 x drive motor vehicle while unlicensed
- 1 x breach of bail
- 1 x drive vehicle dangerous manner pursuit
- 1 x aggravated robbery
A second 16-year-old male was released from custody pending further investigation.
