News | International
30 Nov 2023 1:27
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    NT Police data shows crime increase in Katherine as business owners remain on alert

    After several break-ins, Feliota Fahey now sits at the front of her store in Katherine, where police data show break-ins have continued to increase, leaving the door locked before letting people inside.


    Feliota Fahey, a resident in Katherine for 35 years, says this year has been the least safe she's ever felt in her retail and clothing store.

    She estimates young children have stolen goods and inflicted damage in her store about six times in 2023.

    After the break-ins, Ms Fahey, who is regularly in the shop on her own, has taken to sitting at the front of her store, leaving the door locked before letting people inside.

    "It's made me really nervous. I've been taking anxiety tablets," she said.

    In a recent incident, Ms Fahey alleged a group of children smashed several items in her store, including a large vase she said narrowly missed her head.

    Newly-released crime data reflects Ms Fahey's concern, showing a rise across key crime statistics in Katherine.

    Commercial break-ins, in the previous 12 months to September, have risen from 281 incidents in 2022 to 325.

    House break-ins have almost doubled in the past year, rising from 153 incidents in 2022 to 302.

    Assaults recorded in the town have also risen from 737 incidents in 2022 to 1,052 in the most recent statistics.

    One business owner, who did not want to be named out of fear their shop would be targeted, has resorted to sleeping in their shop to disrupt any attempted break-ins or robberies.

    Police back summer plans

    NT Police Senior Sergeant Danny Bacon said there would be enough police to support communities like Katherine heading into summer.

    "I'm very comfortable that we have plans in place in regards to those regional centres," he said.

    Police have not confirmed police staffing levels in Katherine, or if personnel had increased in response to higher crime rates.

    "We need to put our resources where they are at a given time and that will fluctuate quite regularly," Sergeant Bacon said.

    Sergeant Bacon pointed to Strike Force Cerberus, a police operation focusing on property crime in Katherine, as a strategy police were using to combat crime, as well as plans to give kids activities during the summer to help minimise offending.

    "I think activities for youth over the holiday periods is critical, to make sure that kids are busy," he said.

    Be proactive, says business owner

    Julie Newton, who operates a saddlery on Katherine's main drag, said the business has used a few tactics to prevent break-ins that have proved effective, such as installing smash protection in the shopfront.

    More novel measures have also been employed.

    "I'm quite short, so it means you have to arrange your all your displays to be that little bit shorter, so you can see who's in the shop," she said.

    "In the last two years, we've really ramped that up."

    She said she'd like the NT government's Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade to visit stores and guide businesses in designing shops to better prevent crime.

    "So businesses don't have to close or attend after hours," she said.


    ABC




    © 2023 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     29 Nov: When the machinery broke, 'rat-hole miners' dug by hand to rescue 41 trapped labourers in India
     29 Nov: Rick Rockliff, Tasmanian agricultural identity and father of Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, dies
     29 Nov: Israel-Gaza war updates: Hamas and IDF trade ceasefire accusations as more prisoners and hostages are released — as it happened
     29 Nov: Israel-Gaza updates: Hope for temporary ceasefire extension grows with talk of Israel extending it
     29 Nov: Jimmy Barnes hospitalised with pneumonia, cancels festival appearance
     29 Nov: NSW police officer Kristian White charged with manslaughter over taser death of Clare Nowland at nursing home
     29 Nov: Global climate negotiations marred by revelations COP28 president planned to use his position to push oil trade deals
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    New Zealand Rugby remains a firm "no" on the matter, but changing All Blacks eligibility laws has been thrust back into the spotlight More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Netball Australia has made a short term pay offer which would allow contracting to begin for next year's Suncorp Super Netball competition while long-term negotiations continue with the Players' Association More...



     Today's News

    Hamilton:
    Emergency services are responding after a vehicle struck a person on Forest Lake Road in Beerescourt, Hamilton 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Paris Hilton kept her baby daughter secret from her family until she introduced them to the tot on Thanksgiving 21:38

    International:
    When the machinery broke, 'rat-hole miners' dug by hand to rescue 41 trapped labourers in India 21:17

    Business:
    Netball Australia has made a short term pay offer which would allow contracting to begin for next year's Suncorp Super Netball competition while long-term negotiations continue with the Players' Association 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Chad Michael Murray does not wish to address his past after Erin Foster accused him of cheating on her with Sophia Bush 21:08

    International:
    Rick Rockliff, Tasmanian agricultural identity and father of Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, dies 20:47

    Entertainment:
    Matthew Perry's family are "proud" to bring his charity to the world to help others battling addiction issues 20:38

    Law and Order:
    Israel-Gaza war updates: Hamas and IDF trade ceasefire accusations as more prisoners and hostages are released — as it happened 20:27

    Entertainment:
    Kylie Jenner hired a dog nanny for her seven pooches 20:08

    Entertainment:
    Robert De Niro was left furious at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, as he claimed part of his speech had been "edited" without his knowledge 19:38


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2023 New Zealand City Ltd