1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Yesterday we told you about Strikeforce Trident and the Dog 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Operations Unit working to secure the arrest of fifteen people 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: involved in separate property offenses. Now the work Store police 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: wigde through waste deep water into mangroves to arrest six 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,119 Speaker 1: youths that were wanted over property offenses. Those arrests happened 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 1: on Tuesday night. And joining me on the line to 7 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit more about it is Detective 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: Senior Sergeant Mark Bland. Good morning, hang on, let me 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: just make sure I've got that on. Good morning to you. 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katy. 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: God Now talk me through when these cars were stolen 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: in the first instance. 13 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: Well, in the first instance, Katie, it was early Tuesday morning. 14 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: We had a vehicle stolen from your head. From there, 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: that and another style of motor vehicle made its way 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 2: down to a service station in Acasia, where the vehicles 17 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: have rammed the front doors, causing extensive damage. Twelve offenders 18 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: are captured on CCTV entering and round sacking the store, 19 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: stealing thousands of dollars worth of items. From there, they 20 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: made their way to a business premise in Winnelli, where 21 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: they hot wide another vehicle rammed it into other vehicles 22 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: in order to exit that premises, again causing unnecessary damage. 23 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 2: They then proceeded throughout that morning to seal another five 24 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 2: vehicles throughout the Greater Darent area. A bit later on 25 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: that morning, we received information that one of the vehicles 26 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: was in bush Land out in the Nunama area. Ourselves, 27 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: the operations Unit and traffic members attended that location where 28 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: we recovered two of the vehicles and arrested seven offenders 29 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: from those two vehicles. A bit later on, we then 30 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: got another vehicle style of vehicle that was recovered in 31 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: Daily River, with another two arrests made from that vehicle. 32 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: So on all, we got nine arrests just from that 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: early spree from that morning wow, which then culminated into yes, 34 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: I guess the second spree that occurred later on that evening. 35 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 3: And talk us through that one. 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: Well that funnily enough, we were just finishing up all 37 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 2: those files for the first nine and we've got information 38 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: that group of us were driving radically along through the 39 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 2: Warner area. That vehicle ended up ramming another vehicle and 40 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: was dumped and Wilner with the US running into an alley. 41 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 2: The police CCTV operators observed the us and gave police 42 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: their direction of travel. So while seeing one ali, they've 43 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: broken into another business there and we're in the process 44 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: of stealing. We're trying to steal more vehicles when police 45 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: try and dog operations unit arrived, which saw the six 46 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: flee across Tiger Brennan into the mangraves, and as you 47 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 2: spoke about, the trian officers and the dog operations unit 48 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: entered the mangraves, wading through wasteap water thankfully arrested the 49 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: six without incident or injury. 50 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: Toy On, Wow, I mean it's you would have to 51 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: suspect that it's a pretty dangerous situation to be in 52 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: them wading through that waste water in the mangroves. 53 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, Katie, dark, very little light, the torches on. 54 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: I think everyone's probably seen the body worn volage bone hour. 55 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: But yeah, extremely dangerous circumstances for all involved them. Just 56 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: thankfully and I was hurt. 57 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: Now, how many vehicles were stolen in total. 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: Well, in that just that period, nine vehicles were stolen, 59 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: and thankfully we recovered all night, so which was a 60 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: good result. 61 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: That is, it is a good result and so lucky 62 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: that all of those were recovered. 63 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 3: How badly damaged are they? 64 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 2: Are? They very Some are quite badly damaged. Some aren't 65 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: it all much damage at all. It's the same old 66 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: as we've spoken about a number of times, Katie. Yeah, 67 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: it's the older model land cruises they're targeting, which we 68 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: spoke about last time. So it's hard to bang on 69 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: about it. But I have mentioned before about the wheelocks 70 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: or immobilizers, so these older sort of tiertas, because it's 71 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: quite a parent that's what they are targeting. 72 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: Somebody else had suggested to me, you know, could you 73 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: put one of those those little apple air drops into 74 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: your car? You know they and they can sort of 75 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: they can track where you are. I mean, if you 76 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: have one of those in your vehicle, would it make 77 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: it more more easy for the police to be able 78 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: to locate the cars? 79 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: Oh? Absolutely, Katie, that's that's a great idea. Highly recommend 80 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 2: that because yes, that's in that vehicle, we'll be able 81 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: to track it live wherever it's going. 82 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, so it's an air tag. It's called my mistaken 83 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: air tag air tag. 84 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: Yes, that's right. Yeah, yeah, highly recommend it. Yeah, like 85 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: I was saying, what said, is that car stole and 86 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: you've got that in there, we'll be able to track 87 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: it live. 88 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, the rest And obviously, as you've touched on, they 89 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: are targeting those older model land Cruisers by the look 90 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: of things. Are they then being taken out into in 91 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: some cases out into the community. I know that with 92 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: the nine the you've that you've obviously been able to 93 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: you know, to get back this time round. They didn't 94 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: make it out to the communities by the sounds of it. 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: But is that an issue that you're still grappling with. 96 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:10,559 Speaker 3: At the moment. 97 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is, Kadie. It's quite apparent that most of 98 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: these vehicles are heading back out towards communities. 99 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I was sent some photos of young people 100 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: in stolen cars over the weekend, sort of posing with 101 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: those stolen vehicles. They in one case had one of 102 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: those vehicles in water in what looks like a creek 103 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: and and you know, comments like if the police you know, 104 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: subbed onto those photos, it must be frustrating for you guys. 105 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 2: Yeah it is. And we saw that too where these 106 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: vehicles were stolen when ELI they had tagged a lot 107 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: of the other vehicles with f TP. Yeah we know 108 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 2: what that means. Yes, Yeah, it's just sort of having 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 2: a go as well, isn't it. Yeah, it is quite frustrating. 110 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: But to put those two I don't know if this 111 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 2: was covered, but they're initially like we said, there was 112 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: fifteen at that first lot, well, there was second one 113 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 2: where we grabbed six. I were actually involved with that 114 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: first free as well. So the whole fifteen of them 115 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 2: came in together and basically ran a muck for that 116 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: twenty four hours where they tried to steal as many 117 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 2: vehicles as possibly could. 118 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 3: Unbelievable. So talk us through as well. Now with all of. 119 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: Those that have been arrested, are they like, are they 120 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: reminded in custody or is it sort of varying depending 121 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: on the offenses and the ages. 122 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. Okay, we've got a couple that were 123 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: released for diversion consideration. Three of those we had poor 124 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 2: youth that were bailed like yesterday afternoon, and the remainder 125 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: were reminded at this stage. 126 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 3: Okay. 127 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: Out of the fifteen of culminated, one hundred and sixty 128 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 2: charges being. 129 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 3: Made, one hundred and sixty charges one hundred and. 130 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: Sixty charges across the fifteen arrests here. Wow, they have 131 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 2: caused some significant damage in proper related crime in that period. 132 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: It sounds that way now for those who have just 133 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: joined us. We are joined of course on the show 134 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: by Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Bland, who's just talking us 135 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: through these arrests that occurred yesterday with fifteen people obviously arrested, 136 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty charges laid. It sounds like it's 137 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: been a massive job for you guys. It was. 138 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a very very big period. We've got 139 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: the fifteen arrests obviously in that twelve hour period, which 140 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 2: was a very very quick result, and got the nine 141 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: casts back. But it's all out for stuff that goes 142 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: with it, the collection of the CCTV in the file 143 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: preparation and the other follow ups. So it is a lot, 144 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: a lot of work and we're still actually working on 145 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: it today. The whole team still used to work on 146 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: it today. 147 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, now, a lot of work and at the moment 148 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: it does seem as though we've got an issue again 149 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: within the community or within Darwin. I don't know how 150 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: fast spread it is like out to the rural area 151 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: as well, but we are seeing quite a lot large 152 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: number of cars stolen, or it feels that way. 153 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 3: If you. 154 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: You know, if you look on social media and if 155 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: you go by the people that are contacting us here 156 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: at the radio station. 157 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 3: Have we seen a bit of a spike in car thefts? 158 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, okay, we have. We have seen a spike, 159 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 2: and like I said, it's mainly those old the Toyota 160 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 2: lane cruises, so they are being targeted. There are other 161 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 2: car style, of course, but the majority are these older 162 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 2: model in cruises. It's been probably the last month or so, 163 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: probably two months that we have seen an increase in 164 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: those vehicles being targeted. But like you said, that air 165 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 2: drop was. 166 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 3: It Yeah, air tag yep, air. 167 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,359 Speaker 2: Tag, steering lock. It mobilizes anything you can do to 168 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 2: secure a car a bit better. Especially I've got the 169 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 2: older model Toyotas, which, like I said, they seem to 170 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: be driving around on that night. They just seem to 171 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 2: be driving around looking for these older model cars and 172 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 2: that's why they stole so many of them. 173 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, goodness, May And I know that we are sort 174 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: of about to head into the Christmas period as well. 175 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: It is a time where, you know where sometimes we 176 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: see a bit of a spike in that property crime 177 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: and al so, I'm assuming the likes of car thefts. 178 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: What is your advice for Territorians, particularly if they're planning 179 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: on heading away and you know, on leaving their cars 180 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: at home. 181 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll just just immobilize it if you can. Obviously 182 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 2: you take your car keys with you, don't leave them 183 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: at home in case your house does get broken into. 184 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: If you can have a security camera setup, always tell 185 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 2: your neighbors when you're leaving and when you're coming back. 186 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 2: Get them to take the mail out of your mailbox. 187 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 2: It doesn't look like you know, if you've got to 188 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 2: keep a mail in the mailbox, people usually know that 189 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: you're not home. Get friends to pop round every day 190 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: or second day just to make sure everything's in order. 191 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 2: And just report back whilst you're on holidays, and just 192 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 2: make sure that all your properties intact while you're away, 193 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 2: taking you do all your holidays. 194 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, well detective seeing your Sergeant Mark Bland from 195 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: Strikeforce Trident. We always appreciate your time. Thank you very 196 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: much for having a chat with us this morning. And 197 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: you know, well done to the Northern Territory Police too, 198 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: all of you guys for guys and girls capturing and 199 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: arresting those fifteen people involved in those property offenses, one 200 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty charges laid. Yeah, thank you very much 201 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: for your time this morning. 202 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, and if I don't speak to you beforehand, 203 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: I hope yourself and your listeners and all your families 204 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 2: have a wonderful Christmas and please stay safe over that 205 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: period you too. 206 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 3: Thanks so much, Blandye, we appreciate it.