Despite more police on the front line, CCTV cameras lining the main street and government grants for businesses to improve their security against break-ins, youth offenders are still causing havoc. 

In the past year, 310 shops were broken into in Katherine, approaching one per day. 

Garry Ellis, the owner of Autopro, said it was up to the courts to dish out harsher punishments. 

"Yes we need more active policing on the street to deter them, but the judges have to be stricter," he said.

The resident of four years said that while there are "programs galore" and curfews in place for some, there was no way of enforcing youth into homes or activities to reap the benefits. 

"Education and a tougher upbringing is what we need. My mum would bring out the electric jug cord and I learnt by my mistakes," he said. 

The owner of The Sweetest Things, Lana Read agreed the judicial system needs to change. 

"Someone is going to get hurt soon and it won't be the victim," she said. 

"We need to build a prison farm meaning rehabilitation, meaning it is 12 months straight up for petty crime because you can't rehabilitate in a couple of weeks. 

"You can't be rehabilitated if you are coming back into the same environment and mindset. They need to learn and be educated." 

She said prison farms could be an opportunity for young offenders to enter an environment where mental health and education are supported as well as opportunities for training and development. 

"At the end of it they can come out feeling worthy and confident they can make changes in their homes," she said. 

"There is no point sending them to prison where they have the perfect opportunity to learn how to do things better."

A long-term Katherine resident who also works on the main street but did not want us to use her name said when she arrived in town 20 years ago, crime was not as big an issue. 

"It is not the good old Katherine it was," she said, "when I first got here the town was clean and while crime was not at zero it was minimal." 

She said far too many youth offenders are being released, only to re-offend again. 

"We can kiss our tourist season goodbye," she said. 

"They will be arriving in just a couple of weeks and the town is putrid. 

"Something has to be done before shop owners take it into their own hands and all hell breaks loose." 

On Monday, Chief Minister Micheal Gunner visited Katherine to talk about the year ahead. 

“We have to invest in the things that matter to you – to cut crime, and create jobs," he said. 

The Government has set up Biz Secure to help businesses improve their security. 

Grants of up to $10,000 are available and so far grants to 33 businesses in Katherine have been approved. 

In addition to employing more police officers and installing extra surveillance on the streets, the NT Government is investing $5 million on a Back on Track Program for young people caught up in the youth justice system. 

According to the NT Government, "the key aim of the program is to get young people back on track, while taking responsibility for their actions and understanding the consequences of their offending behaviour."

The "alternative to detention" is expected to be implemented in Katherine by the middle of this year. 

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