Northern Territory police have blamed a massive increase in property crime on thousands of itinerants sleeping rough in the Darwin area.

June 17, 2022

A surge in the number of people sleeping rough around Darwin has led to a spike in property crime, Northern Territory police say.

Commercial break-ins skyrocketed by 62 per cent in the 12 months to May compared to the previous year.

House break-ins rose by 45 per cent and car theft increased by 35 per cent for the same period.

Superintendent John Ginnane says a five-fold increase in the number of itinerants in and around Darwin, which rose from about 700 to 4500 through the wet season, is behind the “massive increase” in property crime.

“Part of it is the usual seasonal conditions where people will come in from outlying homelands and outstations because it is easier to find alcohol,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Some of those communities are cut off for some months during the wet season.”

Many of the rough sleepers, who are also known as long grassers, are Indigenous Territorians.

They travel to the city for many reasons, including to visit family members, attend medical appointments, entertainment and to take part in cultural activities.

“There’s (also) been some unrest in certain other communities in recent months. That’s brought other people in. They’re sleeping rough and getting by as best they can,” Supt Ginnane said.

The numbers of rough sleepers has started to drop over the past month, with many choosing to return to their homes on-country with the arrival of the dry season.

“Those numbers have now gone down to under 1000, but a lot of the commercial break-ins that we’ve seen, particularly in recent times, have been itinerants breaking into shops and other similar premises, predominantly looking for alcohol,” he said.

The NT government’s Return to Country program has also helped many people leave Darwin.

“It’s been remarkably successful this year, as opposed to previous years, in encouraging people to return to their own country,” Supt Ginnane said.

The police have also modified how officers patrol itinerants in and around Darwin in recent months, with up to six vans travelling together to maintain law and order.

“That’s having a significant effect,” Supt Ginnane said.