Police hope Katherine's crime spree has turned the corner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While the most recent release of crime statistics for the town show a fall in shop and business break-ins they still remain at Territory-high levels.
Police say the numbers, while still high, are trending down.
Those crime statistics, taken from police records over the past year ending February 2019, show commercial break-ins are still up 132 per cent.
But it is well down on the percentage rise from the previous month of 201.8 per cent.
A close analysis of the crime figures still reveals actual crime numbers are much the same.
Shop break-ins have risen from 138 to 320 year on year.
Last month the actual numbers were 322 investigated break-ins year on year.
House break-ins are up 22 per cent to 141 year on year.
Combined, the shop and house break-ins total 461, more than one a day.
Assaults were up (583) and property damage and motor vehicle thefts were also up.
The biggest win from the latest crime statistics is the continuing downward trend of reported sexual assaults down 42.5 per cent year on year.
Acting Commander Brendan Muldoon said there are 10 police auxiliary liquor inspectors in Katherine in an effort to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence within the community.
"While their presence is still very new to the Katherine area, we are starting to see the positive influence of their presence around the community, and I am looking forward to seeing how this initiative plays a role in reducing crime in the region over the coming months."
He said property crime in Katherine, particularly break-ins of private and commercial premises, was still significantly up for the 12 months ending February 2019, when comparing the 12 months ending February 2018.
Commercial break-ins are up 132% and house break-ins are up 23%. This equates to an overall increase in property related crime by 37%. While these figures are high, there has been a downward trend in property related crime by 17% in February 2019 compared to January 2019.
Operation Pelion commenced in late January 2019 to address the significant spike in property crime.
The Pelion team are committed to reduce property crime in Katherine whilst enhancing community confidence in police.
"Operation Pelion members and the Katherine police are taking positive proactive policing approaches when dealing with property crime offenders and ensuring that property crime offenders are being held to account for their actions.
"Katherine police are also engaging with repeat victims and discussing crime reduction strategies including the Biz Secure Grants that are available to businesses to help increase the security on their premises.
"I am confident with the police (targeting offenders and holding them to account for their actions) working together with the community (reducing the opportunity for crime by improving security to premises and locking premises) that we will see a reduction in property offending in future months."
Members of the public are encouraged to continue to report all crimes and suspicious behaviour via Triple Zero (000) if the matter is urgent, the police assistance line (131 444) or via Crime Stoppers anonymously (1800 333 000).
The reporting of all crime, suspicious and antisocial behaviour allows police to address the offending promptly.
"It also helps the NT Police Force ensure our intelligence teams are able to best direct police patrols to identified crime and antisocial hotspots across the Northern Command."
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.