Northern Territory Police have arrested a 24-year-old male in relation to three alleged robberies which occurred yesterday evening.The alleged offender and three unknown males were picked up by a taxi driver from Casuarina around 4:00pm yesterday. The taxi driver drove the males to Leanyer where they purchased alcohol and conveyed them back to Casuarina. All males except the offender exited the taxi. The offender reached across the taxi driver and stole money following a short struggle. The taxi driver drove to a safe place and activated his emergency alarm.
The second incident occurred at the car park of Hibiscus Shopping Centre around 6:00pm yesterday. A second taxi driver was counting money in his car when the offender allegedly entered the vehicle via the passenger side, took the money and punched the driver in the face. The driver sustained facial injuries and the offender fled the scene.
The offender then attended a business at Casuarina around 7:50pm. He snatched at the cash till and was approached by staff as he attempted to leave. The offender attempted to strike a staff member and missed however a brief struggle resulted in the staff member sustaining an ankle injury. The offender left the location and was detained by members of the public and security until police arrived.
The man has been charged with:
• 1x Aggravated Robbery
• 1x Robbery
• 1x Assault With Intent to Steal
Serious Crime Squad detectives have arrested a male in relation to an armed robbery at a Yarrawonga liquor store last night.
It is alleged that the male and an accomplice entered the store at approximately 9:30pm and attempted to steal liquor. The accomplice left the store without paying for a bottle of bourbon and when the first male was refused service as a result, he produced an edged weapon and attempted to strike an employee.
The male then fled the store and returned to the vehicle both he and his accomplice were travelling in.
Palmerston General Duties members attended the scene shortly after and attempted to apprehend the vehicle. A pursuit was initiated after the driver failed to stop. The pursuit was terminated near Noonamah due to the manner of driving.
The male was located in Batchelor this evening and subsequently arrested. Charges are expected to be laid in the near future.
Police are continuing their enquiries in order to locate the accomplice. He is described as slight build, approximately 175 – 180 cm tall, Aboriginal with dark complexion, clean shaven, wearing khaki coloured shorts, a dark coloured top and a dark coloured baseball hat.
The vehicle the men were reported to be travelling in is described as a dark green or blue coloured Ford Falcon station wagon displaying Western Australian registration, possibly 1AIF583 or 1AIF532.
Northern Territory Police have arrested two men in relation to an aggravated assault and robbery at a supermarket in Alice Springs yesterday.
It is alleged just before 10am the two men and another unidentified man entered a supermarket in Eastside and on approaching the counter, began arguing with the female cashier.
On the arrival of the supervisor, it is alleged one of the men, a 19-year-old climbed onto the counter and kicked the supervisor once to the face before jumping behind the counter.
It is further alleged the other man, a 22-year-old threw two large glass bottles at the wall near the cashier’s head before the 19-year-old man punched her in the face and stole several packets of cigarettes. The trio then fled the scene.
Police deployed multiple resources and arrested the 22-year-old man late yesterday. He will appear before the Alice Springs Local Court today on the following charges:
1 x Aggravated Robbery
2 x Damage to property
3 x Drive vehicle manner Dangerous/pursuit
1 x Drive Vehicle manager Dangerous
5 x Drive Disqualified
1 x Fail to comply with reporting conditions
1 x Breach of Bail
The 19-year-old and another 22-year-old man were arrested by front line members and Police Dog Loki at a separate incident in which a woman was assaulted and had her car windscreen smashed at a town camp yesterday morning.
The 19-year-old will appear before the Alice Springs Local Court today on the following charges:
1 x Aggravated Robbery
1 x Damage to Property
1 x Armed with an Offensive Weapon
The 22-year-old man was charged with one count of Aggravated Assault and received bail.
Serious Crime Squad members have arrested a 22-year-old male in relation to aggravated robbery.
Around 3:30am on 1 October, a taxi driver picked up the male from Darwin City and conveyed him to an address in Palmerston CBD.
On arrival, the male had fallen asleep in the car. When the driver went to wake him it is alleged the male suddenly jumped out and assaulted the driver. The driver was threatened and told to drive to an address in Woodroffe.
Police allege the male further assaulted the driver, stole money and threatened to stab him in Woodroffe. The male fled the location.
The driver was conveyed to hospital by a friend some time later.
The 22-year-old was arrested around 10:30am on 11 October. A search warrant was executed at an address in Woodroffe where police seized various items involved in the offending.
He has been charged with:
- Aggravated robbery
- Deprivation of liberty
- Cause serious harm
The male is due to appear in Darwin Local Court on 24 October.
Northern Territory Police are urging businesses to update their anti-virus software and beware of an invoice email scam after one man lost $50,000.
It is alleged the man reported the theft on May 22 to Alice Springs Police after one of his clients raised attention regarding an invoice payment redirection.
“It appears the man’s email has been compromised and the offenders have continued to use his business tax invoices and request payment from existing clients into a new account, said Senior Constable King Sun
“The man was completely unaware of the email requests and conversations between the offenders and his clients via email until one of his clients ended up raising the issue of payment redirection with him.
“Two clients paid significant sums of cash into an account, which is likely an account of either a knowing or unwitting Money Mule.”
The scam is called a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam and involved scammers presenting to be legitimate suppliers advising of changes to payment arrangements.
“As our daily workings essentially evolve more around online systems, I cannot stress enough to people to become aware and ensure they have adequate anti-viral software installed and updates to prevent becoming a victim, said Senior Constable Sun
“It’s also a timely reminder that while email and texting are fantastic ways of communicating, if you have any concerns regarding payment then it may pay to raise in a verbal discussion.”
Business owners can take control by:
- Activate the Two-factor authentication: so you are alerted to any attempts to gain access to your personal and business accounts by anyone else other than you.
- If you think you’re accounts have been hacked – change all passwords on email accounts and computers.
- Install a good security package on their computers/devices and regularly install any updates
- Email your client base regarding any future emails they receive about change of bank details and tell them to call you to discuss, clarify and confirm details are not a scam.
- If you believe your personal details have been accessed by someone other than you, contact ID Care at www.idcare.org.au or call ID Care on 1300 432 273
The incident remains under investigation by Alice Springs Police.
Anyone who believes they may have fallen victim to scammers or if they believe their email/online accounts have been compromised are urged to report it online to ACORN the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network at www.acorn.gov.au
Strike Force Trident members are investigating an armed robbery at a service station in Casuarina earlier today.
It is alleged three people were in the service station when a man with a weapon entered the store on Vanderlin Drive around 4am.
The man allegedly walked behind the service counter, where an attendant was standing and proceeded to remove an amount of money before fleeing the store and running in the direction of Vanderlin Drive towards Leanyer.
No one was injured during the incident.
Police have released an image from CCTV footage and are requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the offender.
The offender is described as being in his 30s, slim build, 175cms tall and described as part Indigenous in appearance. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a blue singlet, long black pants and black shoes with white soles.
Northern Territory Police are appealing for witnesses after a robbery at a Moil business this morning.
A man entered the business and threatened a staff member with a knife before stealing an amount of money and fleeing at around 9:45am.
He was barefoot and wearing a blue shirt wrapped around his head, as well as a long sleeve orange and blue high visibility shirt, camouflage pants and gloves.
The offender was last seen on Hare Street in Moil.
A 31-year-old male has been charged with seven counts of obtaining benefit by deception.
The company he was employed by was also charged with seven counts of obtaining benefit by deception.
Detective Superintendent Scott Pollock from the Drug and Organised Crime Division said that the charges were laid as part of an ongoing investigation by Major Fraud.
“Police will allege more than $220,000 was illegally obtained from the Northern Territory Government’s Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum.”
The matter has been listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court on 6 April 2018.
Northern Territory Police have arrested three male youths for aggravated robbery in Alice Springs.
Detective Senior Constable Keryn Goymer said the incident occurred on Sunday 8 October at a business in Sadadeen.
“The offenders allegedly entered the business about 5:30pm, armed with a baseball bat and a knife,” he said.
“The offenders approached a staff member demanding cigarettes.
“An alarm was activated and the offenders fled.”
Two 13-year-olds and a 15-year-old were arrested yesterday and charged with aggravated robbery.
They were remanded in custody to appear in the Alice Springs Local Court today.
Northern Territory Police have arrested a 31-year-old man following an armed robbery at a Jingili service station.
The man was arrested in Nightcliff around 12:10pm following a pursuit through the Darwin and rural area.
He is currently in custody assisting police with enquiries.