The Northern Territory Police Dog Operations Unit and Strike Force Trident have arrested multiple offenders following incidents over the weekend.
Early Friday morning, police received information a Toyota Hilux was stolen from Wadeye.
The following morning, Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operations Unit observed the vehicle travelling on the Stuart Highway near the intersection of Cox Peninsula Road.
Tyre Deflation Devices were successfully deployed on Channel Island Road with the vehicle coming to a stop on Brumby Court, Marlow Lagoon. All seven offenders fled the vehicle into nearby bushland.
Patrol Dogs Drax and Wedge were both deployed while a cordon was established in the area.
Drax and his handler tracked the offenders almost a kilometre through dense bushland before locating 4 adults and 3 youths in tall grass. At the directions of the handler and Drax, all seven were escorted to a nearby police vehicle and taken into custody.
All have since been charged with one count of drive vehicle without consent and will appear in court at later dates.
In a separate incident at 2:30am on Monday, two offenders unlawfully entered a premises on Gardens Hill Road, The Gardens, and stolen a Lexus and Mercedes.
The Lexus was later used in a ram raid at a business on Temple Terrace, Palmerston before recovered abandoned on Driver Oval a short time later.
At 5:25am the same morning, Tyre Deflation Devices were deployed on the Mercedes in Driver. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Moulden.
Investigators identified two youth allegedly involved in the offending with Strike Force Trident and Dog Ops arresting both in Driver.
The 12-year-old was charged with:
- Aggravated burglary - dwelling x 1
- Theft x 1
- Use vehicle without consent x 1
- Drive a motor vehicle while unlicensed x 1
- Serious breach of bail x 1
The 13-year-old was charged with:
- Aggravated burglary - dwelling x 1
- Theft x 2
- Use vehicle without consent x 1
- Aggravated burglary - building x 1
- Damage to property x 1
- Drive a motor vehicle while unlicensed x 1
- Serious breach of bail x 1
Both were remanded to appear in court yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Michael Lunney said "These arrests were the result of the exceptional work of the Dog Operations Unit, Strike Force Trident and general duties, who frequently work together to investigate property offences.
"I would also like to commend the work of PD Drax and his handler, who tracked and subsequently arrested seven offenders singlehandedly, after tracking them through dense bushland.
"NT Police continue to urge anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour to make contact on 131 444 or in an emergency call triple zero."
