Crime wave in Alice Springs has residents demanding action: ‘It’s getting out of control’
- Replies 18
Alice Springs, the heart of Australia's outback, is grappling with a crime wave that has left its residents feeling vulnerable and frustrated.
The town, known for its rich Aboriginal art, rugged natural beauty, and the iconic Uluru, is now making headlines for a surge in car thefts and break-ins.
This alarming trend has sparked a public outcry, with locals demanding immediate and effective action from the authorities.
The crime wave has been particularly noticeable over the holiday period, casting a shadow over the festive season.
This comes despite the Northern Territory government's announcement of a 'zero-tolerance approach' to antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs during the summer.
As part of this initiative, Operation Drina was launched late last year, with fifty police officers redeployed across Central Australia to tackle alcohol-related offences.
However, the operation seems to have done little to address the rising crime rates, leaving residents like 82-year-old Raelene McEllister feeling unsafe and violated.
McEllister's home was ransacked on Boxing Day while she was in hospital for emergency surgery.
'Not enough is being done to keep people safe,' she lamented, revealing that all her jewellery was stolen during the break-in last week, and she ‘had enough’.
‘I just want to cry. It's scary because I live by myself.’
The local police have reported a series of crimes in recent weeks, including the alleged theft of a rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition from a home by a group of young people.
The group reportedly used the rifle to threaten two children before it was recovered. Investigations are ongoing, and no charges have been filed yet.
The police also reported the suspicious death of a 19-year-old man on New Year’s Day. His body was found on a sealed road.
Local business owners also felt the pinch.
Sam Edelman, who owns the local KFC franchise, described the crime situation in Alice Springs as 'getting beyond out of control'.
He was advised by the police to avoid the CBD for his safety after children allegedly used large rocks to break into his shop.
‘Unfortunately, police were so run off their feet…that I had to go down there at 3:30 in the morning and secure the building,’ Edelman said.
‘But I had been recommended at the time by the operator on triple-0 not to enter the CBD because of the number of stolen vehicles driving around.’
The rising tide of criminal activity has also forced other businesses, including the local Coles supermarket, to transform into fortresses after dark.
Coles implemented full roll-down security screens on all windows due to the increasing incidents of vandalism and break-ins.
NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy acknowledged the changing nature of crime in Alice Springs, noting a decrease in violent crimes but a significant increase in car thefts and break-ins.
He revealed that there had been 17 vehicle theft cases in Alice Springs in the past two weeks, resulting in 17 arrests, nine of which were children.
The Commissioner also highlighted the audacity of the offenders, many of whom showed a 'total disregard' for the police.
He said, 'We actually see them make an effort to goad police into pursuits and actually try and ram us.'
He said a small group of repeat offenders were known to police.
‘When we see people who follow these ring leaders engage in diversion, we usually see that's pretty effective,’ Murphy said.
‘It's usually the hardcore smaller cohort who will continue to harm the community.’
Despite the alarming situation, Deputy Chief Minister and Alice Springs resident Chansey Paech claimed this year's summer crime had not reached the same 'chaotic' levels as last year.
‘We have seen in comparison from this time last year that the numbers are down, but there's still a lot of work to do,’ Paech said.
He said the NT government's summer crime plan for Alice Springs was being constantly reviewed, and changes would be made 'where necessary'.
‘The plan is in place, we're working with it, we meet every day and work through how we can look at responding,’ he said.
‘We will continue to do the work that we need to do to ensure that we can provide a safe community for everyone.’
However, many residents remain sceptical about the effectiveness of Operation Drina.
'I know the police work really hard. They're doing their best,' said Edelman.
'But I just think there's not the numbers to be able to deal with the spike in crime.'
Have you been affected by the crime wave in Alice Springs? Share your experiences and thoughts on what can be done to address the issue in the comments below.
The town, known for its rich Aboriginal art, rugged natural beauty, and the iconic Uluru, is now making headlines for a surge in car thefts and break-ins.
This alarming trend has sparked a public outcry, with locals demanding immediate and effective action from the authorities.
The crime wave has been particularly noticeable over the holiday period, casting a shadow over the festive season.
This comes despite the Northern Territory government's announcement of a 'zero-tolerance approach' to antisocial behaviour in Alice Springs during the summer.
Alice Springs residents start to worry more about the rising incidents of car thefts and break-ins. Credit: Freepik
As part of this initiative, Operation Drina was launched late last year, with fifty police officers redeployed across Central Australia to tackle alcohol-related offences.
However, the operation seems to have done little to address the rising crime rates, leaving residents like 82-year-old Raelene McEllister feeling unsafe and violated.
McEllister's home was ransacked on Boxing Day while she was in hospital for emergency surgery.
'Not enough is being done to keep people safe,' she lamented, revealing that all her jewellery was stolen during the break-in last week, and she ‘had enough’.
‘I just want to cry. It's scary because I live by myself.’
The local police have reported a series of crimes in recent weeks, including the alleged theft of a rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition from a home by a group of young people.
The group reportedly used the rifle to threaten two children before it was recovered. Investigations are ongoing, and no charges have been filed yet.
The police also reported the suspicious death of a 19-year-old man on New Year’s Day. His body was found on a sealed road.
Local business owners also felt the pinch.
Sam Edelman, who owns the local KFC franchise, described the crime situation in Alice Springs as 'getting beyond out of control'.
He was advised by the police to avoid the CBD for his safety after children allegedly used large rocks to break into his shop.
‘Unfortunately, police were so run off their feet…that I had to go down there at 3:30 in the morning and secure the building,’ Edelman said.
‘But I had been recommended at the time by the operator on triple-0 not to enter the CBD because of the number of stolen vehicles driving around.’
The rising tide of criminal activity has also forced other businesses, including the local Coles supermarket, to transform into fortresses after dark.
Coles implemented full roll-down security screens on all windows due to the increasing incidents of vandalism and break-ins.
The crime situation in Alice Springs was described as ‘getting out of control’. Credit: Freepik
NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy acknowledged the changing nature of crime in Alice Springs, noting a decrease in violent crimes but a significant increase in car thefts and break-ins.
He revealed that there had been 17 vehicle theft cases in Alice Springs in the past two weeks, resulting in 17 arrests, nine of which were children.
The Commissioner also highlighted the audacity of the offenders, many of whom showed a 'total disregard' for the police.
He said, 'We actually see them make an effort to goad police into pursuits and actually try and ram us.'
He said a small group of repeat offenders were known to police.
‘When we see people who follow these ring leaders engage in diversion, we usually see that's pretty effective,’ Murphy said.
‘It's usually the hardcore smaller cohort who will continue to harm the community.’
Despite the alarming situation, Deputy Chief Minister and Alice Springs resident Chansey Paech claimed this year's summer crime had not reached the same 'chaotic' levels as last year.
‘We have seen in comparison from this time last year that the numbers are down, but there's still a lot of work to do,’ Paech said.
He said the NT government's summer crime plan for Alice Springs was being constantly reviewed, and changes would be made 'where necessary'.
‘The plan is in place, we're working with it, we meet every day and work through how we can look at responding,’ he said.
‘We will continue to do the work that we need to do to ensure that we can provide a safe community for everyone.’
However, many residents remain sceptical about the effectiveness of Operation Drina.
'I know the police work really hard. They're doing their best,' said Edelman.
'But I just think there's not the numbers to be able to deal with the spike in crime.'
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