Northern Territory Police arrest 11-year-old boy for armed robbery in Darwin
Quick Look
- Northern Territory Police arrested an 11-year-old boy for allegedly holding up a fast-food restaurant and hotel in Darwin with a knife, accompanied by an eight-year-old accomplice.
- The older boy faces aggravated robbery charges in youth justice court, while the younger is under the age of criminal responsibility.
- The incident follows a series of youth-related crimes in the NT over the past two weeks.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The incident is part of a string of reported crimes involving youths in the Northern Territory over the past two weeks, including a prior raid on a Palmerston petrol station by a group aged nine to 13.
In short:
Northern Territory Police have arrested an 11-year-old boy after he allegedly held up two central Darwin businesses armed with a knife yesterday.
An eight-year-old boy who was allegedly also involved in the hold-up was taken home to a responsible adult.
What's next?
The 11-year-old boy will face the youth justice court charged with aggravated robbery while the other boy is under the age of criminal responsibility.
Police have charged an 11-year-old boy with armed robbery after he allegedly held up a Darwin fast-food restaurant and hotel at knifepoint yesterday, accompanied by another boy aged just eight.
A Northern Territory Police spokesperson said the pair were wearing balaclavas when they entered the restaurant on Mitchell Street in the central business district about 11:50am.
Police allege one of the boys then pulled a knife on a worker and demanded money from the cash register before the staff member "retreated to safety".
"It is alleged the [boys] then attended a hotel on Cavenagh Street where they threatened a staff member with the knife and attempted to rummage through the reception desk before fleeing on foot," the spokesperson said.
" Police CCTV operators tracked the pair's movements, and they were arrested a short time later. "
The older boy was remanded in custody and charged with aggravated robbery, while the eight-year-old was taken home and placed into the care of an adult.
The incident follows a string of reported crimes across the NT allegedly involving more than 20 youths during the past two weeks.
Just a week before the latest incident, police arrested two 13-year-old boys after five youths allegedly ransacked a Palmerston petrol station.
The spokesperson said the group, aged between nine and 13, raided the Shell service station on the corner of Yarrawonga Road and Roystonea Avenue on September 6.
Two of the boys allegedly ransacked the store, stealing food and drink items before smashing a glass door and accessing the area behind the counter.
Police said one of the group left the shop to round up the four others before the youngest member, aged just nine, threatened a male worker with a pair of scissors.
The ordeal left the man with minor injuries to his hands, wrist and knee.
Investigators allege the group then fled with cigarettes, before police were able to find and arrest two of the 13-year-olds.
One of them, who was on bail at the time, was charged with four offences including aggravated robbery and engaging in violent conduct.
The other boy is facing charges of aggravated robbery and engaging in violent conduct.
Police are continuing to search for the other three boys.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The 11-year-old boy will face proceedings in the youth justice court for aggravated robbery.
Very likely · Within weeks
Police will continue searching for the three remaining suspects from the Palmerston petrol station raid.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What motivated the children to commit the armed robbery?
- Are there underlying social or familial issues contributing to youth crime in the NT?
- What preventive measures are being considered to address rising youth offending?
- Will the eight-year-old receive any form of intervention or support?