School holiday youth crime blitz
POLICE have launched a school holiday crime blitz in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour and property crime spikes.
Top End police have created Operation Lanvin, which has a heightened police presence of foot, vehicle and Segway patrols to target antisocial behaviour during the four-week break. Alice Springs police have increased the number of patrols by 50 per cent to 56 every day.
Holiday periods have long been a concern for police, who spend months planning additional resources to combat rising break-in rates.
This week a 14-year-old boy was charged and an 11-year-old was given a youth diversion order after a group of teens threw rocks and damaged 53 new cars at the Peter Kittle dealership in Alice Springs.
In Darwin, Winnellie businesses have been targeted, including Cyclone Motorcycles on Hickman St, causing significant damage.
POLICE have launched a school holiday crime blitz across the Territory in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour and property crime spikes.
Top End police created Operation Lanvin, which has a heightened police presence of foot, vehicle and Segway patrols to target anti-social behaviour during the four-week break.
Alice Springs police have increased the number of patrols by 50 per cent to 56 every day.
Holiday periods have long been a concern for police, who spend months planning additional resources to combat rising break-in rates.
This week a 14-year-old boy was charged and an 11-year-old was given a youth diversion order after a group of teens threw rocks and damaged 53 new cars at the Peter Kittle dealership in Alice Springs.
In Darwin, Winnellie businesses were targeted, including Cyclone Motorcycles on Hickman St.
Thieves smashed a glass pane with a rock but did not enter the showroom, which contained dozens of high-powered motorbikes.
Owner Steve Armitage said replacing the smashed glass cost him thousands of dollars.
“They get no benefit out of it and it’s going to cost me $3000 worth of window and it’s taken up my whole morning,” he said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tony Fuller said since May, Alice Springs-based Strike Force Winx had arrested 47 youths and laid 226 charges.
“We traditionally see a spike in property crime during school holiday periods and we have actively been taking steps to minimise these incidents,” he said.
Northern Operations Division Senior Sergeant Paul Griggs said Operation Lanvin aimed to work with the community to ensure public safety.
“These areas include in shopping centres, on public transport and around other public areas,” Sen-Sgt Griggs said.
“Transit officers from the Transport Department as well as security staff from the Casuarina and Palmerston shopping centres will assist in operations.”
He said the operation would run until school returned on July 24.