As crime continues to escalate, 40 additional police officers were sent to Alice Springs on Wednesday night to urgently bolster the town's police presence.
This comes after police issued an alert early on Wednesday morning, warning residents to avoid the CBD for the second time in exactly two weeks.
Police posted the alert on Facebook, after two LandCruisers, stolen from a business in the suburb of Ciccone, were taken on a rampage through the town centre.
One of the stolen vehicles attempted to ram a police car — it is the third incident of this kind in Alice Springs in the past fortnight.
The vehicles were recovered after a police pursuit, but the offenders remain at large.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said crime was becoming an "incredibly dangerous game" to some in Alice Springs.
"Three of those incidents now in the space of a couple of weeks does give us pause to now step up our strategy," he said.
"That will include a focus on recidivist offenders — particularly recidivist youth offenders."
'Someone will die'
Alice Springs Town Council mayor Matt Paterson said it was "unbelievable" the CBD had been shut down again, and urged the federal government to step in.
"What if this was in Canberra? It would be national news," he said.
"If the Northern Territory government can't control 30 kids, then clearly they need help.
"Because someone will die in the CBD."
The latest crime data paints a bleak picture for Alice Springs.
In the 12 months to the end of September, motor vehicle thefts have surged 41 per cent, while commercial break-ins have risen 67 per cent.
Alcohol-related assaults have also increased more than 42 per cent.
NT Police had initially been planning to bolster the area's police presence on December 1.
"We've brought it forward because of the fact that the copycat [effect] has repeated far quicker than we would have hoped," Commissioner Chalker said.
The Commissioner said it was expected the additional officers would stay three to four weeks in Alice Springs.
However, the Member for Braitling, Joshua Burgoyne, said this was not long enough, as crime has been allowed to reach crisis levels.
"It's very alarming that we need this sort of intervention, that we need these sorts of police numbers in our community," he said.
"But obviously it's been allowed to get to this point where crime is really escalating ... so we need to ensure that it is stamped out."
Brazen attacks on police
NT Police Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said offending was becoming increasingly brazen.
Detective Engels' remarks come after police cars were allegedly rammed by teenagers in separate incidents in Alice Springs and Katherine last week.
"Watching offenders target members of the public and police, my concerns are extremely high," she said.
"I have no doubt if people continue that behaviour, then someone is going to get hurt."
The NT government said it was planning a youth crime "circuit-breaker", which would take at-risk young people off the streets and to safe accommodation.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said on Tuesday the plan could be implemented as early as next week.
Detective Engels hoped this response could help reduce youth crime, while also keeping children safe.
"I think anytime you've got a 12-year-old roaming the streets at 3am, that's neglect," she said.
"That's a failure of care."
Crime taking its toll
For many residents, these rising crime rates are taking a toll.
Heather Parkinson arrived home on Monday to find her house ransacked, with precious objects such as pearl earrings and her son's engagement ring stolen.
It's the fourth break-in on her street in the space of a week.
Ms Parkinson has called the Red Centre home since 1986, but said the incident has made her question a future in Alice Springs.
"You don't want to be on your own at home, but you don't want to leave the house in case they come back," she said.
"It makes you think that time's up, and it's time to go."
Mr Paterson said stories like these were becoming far too common.
"We need to get boots on the ground," he said.
"I don't think it's an unreasonable request in 2022, in the middle of Australia, to feel safe when you go to bed."
