A teenager who allegedly vandalised four store fronts on Katherine's main street and many more cars has been arrested and will face court today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 19-year-old boy was arrested by police yesterday and charged with six counts of damage, as well as stealing and disorderly behavior in public.
With grilles protecting many shop fronts on the main street, many residents say it already looks under siege.
But yesterday, the jail-like appearance came to a peak with a hastily scribbled cardboard 'out of service' sign covering one of the ANZ ATMs, smashed windows and a heightened police presence.
Yesterday, police reported the man had allegedly taken to the streets between 12.20am and 1.00am, and released grainy CCTV images.
Tired of the same old story, social media went into a frenzy after one of the targeted business owners posted to Facebook a photo of himself with a belt in his hand in front of his smashed window. The post was later removed.
On other stories posted to social media, calls for harsher penalties were made clear and recent crime statistics came into question.
"Consequences for the crime or at the very least restitution, our community can no longer tolerate this behaviour," one person commented.
While others called on the town's political leaders to step up.
"Where is Sandra Nelson MLA: Member for Katherine on this?...Businesses in Katherine cannot wait until Labor gets voted out. Do what you were elected to do. Do what is right for Katherine," the person commented.
Opposition leader Gary Higgins also weighed in saying the Northern Territory remains in the grips of a 'crime crisis', with "Katherine the most recent victim of a string of senseless and pointless crime along the main street".
He said the current government's 'soft' approach has created an environment where "criminals know when they break the law there will be no punishment".
"Katherine is a vibrant town with good people who care about where they live, and they deserve to have a government who wants to see the town prosper," he said.
"Under the Gunner Labor Government, Katherine's house prices have dropped and to live through a crime crisis on top of that is too much."
The man has been remanded to appear in Katherine Local Court later today.
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.
