"Very big knives are in the hands of a youth right now, and to make matters worse this fella has done this to us before," the owner of the family run camping and fishing store, Trent de With, said today.

Captured by the store's CCTV surveillance the youth, described as about 12 years old, could be seen throwing a rock at the front glass entrance and then kicking his way in at around 10.40pm.

"He came in and went through our knife display cabinet and tipped it over and smashed it until he could get into it and took four or five knives and took off," Mr de With said.

"He has already been caught by police before for doing the exact same thing to our shop.

"He was put in front of the courts, put on youth diversion and as soon as he's out he's kicking my front door in again."

"Lets try and divert a few of them, I understand diversion and I know how it works, that's fine, but there is a point where police keep putting the same people in front of the judges and they keep diverting them and we keep paying the cost of them."

Fed up and frustrated with the ongoing crime plaguing Katherine over the past couple of years, Mr de With took to social media calling on the government to take action.

"It is 12.30, another boundless possible moment in the Northern Territory," he said in his video.

"I don't even know what to say this time, apart from that I'm just frustrated as all hell.

"If Michael Gunner mentions youth diversion one more time I'll be diverting something else I'll tell you now.

"He should come down here and actually have a chat to business owners, don't get someone to ring us, I don't want to hear from them.

"I want to hear from Michael Gunner himself, and hear if he's 'Gunner' do something about this."

Mr de With said the youth stole two decent sized pig sticking knives coming in at around 35cm long and and a couple of smaller folding knives.

A trail of destruction was left behind costing the business upwards of $4000.

"I have an issue with the soft stance on crime," Mr de With said today.

"Why was this kid back out on the street?

"Why have the police told me this is a dangerous child, yet we choose to divert him instead of doing what should be done and punishing him.

"He should be sent to prison where all naughty kids go."

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