An elderly woman has been robbed at knife point near Darwin’s main shopping centre with several young people arrested, including a seven-year-old, over the alleged attack and multiple other incidents. The crime spree has reignited the territory Opposition’s election pledge, to be tougher on young offenders.
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TVTranscript
00:00 Police swarmed the Darwin bus interchange, ending a crime spree yesterday with five youths
00:09 arrested on a bus.
00:11 People are sick of it.
00:12 They don't feel safe in the territory anymore and people are leaving the territory because
00:16 of it.
00:17 The latest spree began near Kazarina Square where a group of youths, the youngest just
00:22 seven, held an 81-year-old woman at knife point before stealing her handbag.
00:28 Later police received reports of aggravated robberies at two service stations and a licensed
00:33 venue.
00:34 A 13 and 14-year-old were charged while three 11-year-olds and the seven-year-old were placed
00:40 into the care of adults.
00:41 This is a child protection issue.
00:43 There should be a child protection notification generated as a result of that behaviour and
00:47 a serious look at whether or not that family can support that child.
00:52 We need to turn them on to school.
00:53 We need to engage them in school.
00:54 We have to have a variety of options, of learning environments, of learning designs to make
00:59 sure that they understand that schools are for them.
01:02 It's an ongoing issue.
01:04 Sandip works at a local restaurant in Kazarina, recently broken into twice.
01:08 He says it's hard on businesses and staff.
01:11 He often feels unsafe at work, particularly at night.
01:15 They stole all our cash in the deal and yeah, they grabbed some drinks and one of our employees
01:21 were hit by them.
01:22 NT Police have a large presence around Kazarina, especially near the shopping centre, but it
01:27 doesn't seem to be working as a deterrent, with locals claiming they witness some sort
01:32 of crime every single day.
01:34 The crime rate has been increasing day by day.
01:38 The break-ins and some robbery with knives.
01:42 A lot of stabbings, a fair few kids.
01:46 My little brother got mugged by a bunch of kids around here.
01:52 A community desperate for change to a problem with no clear solution.
01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]