Glass doors and windowpanes have been shattered leaving shards across the floor, and staff computers, security cameras and TVs have been "ruined" by rocks, after Katherine's art centre was broken into in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
For about the seventh time this year, the security alarm was triggered just after midnight, alerting staff to another break-in.
"It's occurring at least once a fortnight at the moment," said Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre director Toni Tapp Coutts.
"The damage caused last night is the worst we've ever experienced.
"Almost every pane of glass in both the interior and exterior of the building has been smashed or damaged."
Northern Territory Police established a crime scene earlier this morning and detectives are in the midst of collecting evidence.
Ms Tapp Coutts says the art centre will likely remain closed for the remainder of the week.
"We [are] utterly devastated. There just [are not] any other words to describe how we were feeling," she said.
"The Katherine Prize was due to take place this Friday night, but we've had to postpone because of the significant amount of damage caused to the centre."
Ms Tapp Coutts says it has been "heartbreaking" for the community.
"The Katherine Prize is the longest-running art award in the NT and every year we really look forward to celebrating our amazing artists at the annual reception," she said.
A string of break-ins have rocked Katherine
Earlier in the month, Katherine's public pool was forced to close after the boundary fence and a kiosk security screen were cut "with a tool", according to police.
On October 1, O'Keeffe House, a historic residence managed by the National Trust that is open to the public from May to September, was also broken into and damaged, leaving behind a costly clean-up for the team of retired volunteers in charge.
Merriel Lawrie said tools were stolen from the garden shed, slide screens were ripped apart, dozens of plants were tipped over and a 60-year-old frangipani tree had suddenly begun to die from chemicals spilled on the ground.
"It was heartbreaking, devastating. We couldn't believe the mess that was there," she said.
According to the latest NT police statistics, commercial break-ins in Katherine have risen almost 93 per cent over the past 12 months, in comparison to the same period last year.
That equates to 237 break-ins.
In 2017, statistics show 107 break-ins, 204 in 2018 and 309 in 2019.
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency's (NAAJA) acting principal legal officer Beth Wild says this year's statistics haven't necessarily correlated with what is happening on the ground.
"[A rise in crime] is not something that we've noticed down at court," she said.
However, she said reported crimes that didn't result in a charge could be inflating police figures and pointed out that COVID lockdowns played a huge part in reducing numbers.
Northern Territory Police Minister Kate Worden said the government worked closely with police to minimise crime in Katherine with targeted patrols, "strategic use" of police closed circuit television trailers, and the continued use of police auxiliary liquor inspectors at bottle shops.
Ms Worden said these measures had a positive impact in reducing alcohol-related harm within the community.
"Further initiatives Katherine Police undertake [include] high-visibility and community engagement with a focus on youth engagement, such as the Police vs Youth Outreach kids basketball program, school holiday Operations and police stalls within community."
Research-backed crime solution
Ms Wild said extensive research specific to Katherine had already been completed that would pave the way for "smarter" and "more effective" ways to reduce crime.
"And that is justice reinvestment,' she said.
"We know that the federal government is committed to it, and there's a number of groups across Katherine that are working together and we hope collaboratively with the police.
"The system we have now … isn't working."
Ms Wild said alternatives to custody were paramount because Don Dale Youth Detention Centre "doesn't work. It's not rehabilitative in any way".
At its core, justice reinvestment is the redirection of money from prisons to return power and resources to the community.
"If we're able to keep people in Katherine in the communities they're from, and support them in that community by providing support and accommodation to keep them off the streets … that approach would likely produce positive outcomes," Ms Wild said.
