Northern Territory Police say a rivalry played out on social media is fuelling a wave of car thefts in Katherine, with children as young as 11 allegedly trying to outdo each other in a spate that saw six cars stolen in a week.
Northern Territory Police have linked a spate of vehicle thefts in Katherine to children as young as 11 competing for social media notoriety, with two groups of local youths allegedly 'egging each other on'.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve told reporters in Darwin the offenders were primarily Katherine locals aged between about 11 and 14. 'It's a situation where it's an "I can outdo you" kind of thing,' he said. 'It's all driven through social media.'
Asked about discussion on Katherine community Facebook pages of a car-theft competition between rival groups, Acting Commander Grieve said he did not know whether it was a competition 'per se', but the groups were 'certainly interacting with each other to see if they can outdo each other'.
Police confirmed six cars were reported stolen in the town last week, along with a buggy, an electric scooter and a firearm taken from the back of a ute. A woman was allegedly dragged from her Jeep by a group of children as she prepared to leave for work about 5:30am on Sunday, suffering bruising to her arm. The Jeep was later recovered.
As of Monday morning, police had identified two persons of interest and said investigations were ongoing. The firearm's whereabouts remain unknown. Several arrests have been made in relation to earlier thefts.
NT government data shows 36 motor vehicle thefts 'and related offences' in Katherine in the 12 months to July, up from 29 in the previous period.
The latest crimes follow a series of thefts in May that prompted Mayor Joanna Holden to call for Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to hold an 'urgent' roundtable on crime in the town, warning 'something very catastrophic' was going to happen. Ms Finocchiaro responded by encouraging Ms Holden to use existing channels to communicate her concerns to the NT government.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A woman was allegedly dragged from her car in the early morning, underscoring the direct safety threat to Katherine residents.
- A firearm stolen from a ute remains unaccounted for, a live risk while the investigation continues.
- The case highlights how social media can drive very young offenders, a dynamic likely to interest police and policymakers beyond the NT.
Background
Katherine is a town of around 10,000 people in the Northern Territory. Stolen cars have been an enduring problem there: residents took to the streets in August after a stolen car was driven erratically for about eight hours, and NT government figures show thefts rising from 29 to 36 in the latest 12-month period. In May, Mayor Joanna Holden sought an urgent roundtable with the Chief Minister, warning of a catastrophe, but was directed to use existing channels.
Key Perspectives
NT Police: Acting Commander Mark Grieve describes two groups of local youths, aged about 11 to 14, who are not necessarily running a formal competition but are interacting to outdo each other, with social media the driving force. Police have made several arrests over earlier thefts.
Katherine Mayor and residents: Mayor Joanna Holden warned in May that 'something very catastrophic' was going to happen and called for urgent high-level attention. Community Facebook pages have discussed the idea of a car-theft competition between rival groups.
Critics/Skeptics: Police themselves caution that the 'competition' may be less formal than community discussion suggests. The Chief Minister's response, steering the mayor to existing channels, may be questioned by residents who believe the town needs a more urgent official response.
What to Watch
- Whether the two identified persons of interest are charged and whether the stolen firearm is recovered.
- Whether the next round of NT crime data shows Katherine's motor vehicle theft numbers still climbing.
- Whether the Chief Minister convenes the roundtable the mayor requested in May or the issue escalates further.