The NT Police media unit has seemingly pinned a wild crime spree in Alice Springs on one 16-year-old girl – who they allege, over the course of 36 hours – robbed an elderly woman, bashed a heavily pregnant woman, smashed a taxi driver’s windscreen with a rock that hit him in the neck and stole a vehicle to swerve at police.

NT Police media manager Rob Cross issued the press release yesterday afternoon, detailing parts of the crime spree and stating that one 16-year-old girl is in custody, while investigations continue.

The NT Independent reported last week that frontline police staff in Alice were stretched thin following massive resignations and retirements, while having to deal with the latest COVID-19 lockout measures that has resulted in one patrol vehicle on the road at times and senior detectives posted to bottle shops, among other operational concerns.

Mr Cross said the latest crime spree started on Tuesday around 11:30am, when the 16-year-old girl allegedly stole a handbag from a 77-year-old woman at a Hartley Street carpark.

Later on Tuesday, NT Police received reports of a gold Suzuki Vitara being driven recklessly in and around the Alice Springs CBD area that was later located and approached by officers on Schwartz Crescent.

Mr Cross alleged that the vehicle swerved “to hit” the police before driving off in a dangerous manner. It was unclear if the stolen car collided with the police vehicle.

Police said they received dangerous and reckless driving reports throughout the night involving the Suzuki Vitara.

Then on Wednesday morning at around 7am, Mr Cross said a taxi driver heading south of Alice Springs had his front window smashed by a rock thrown by two female youths standing in the middle of the road.

The driver, who was struck in the neck by the rock, stopped the vehicle, at which point one of the offenders allegedly entered the taxi and stole cash and items.

Mr Cross added that still on Wednesday morning, a 27-year-old heavily pregnant woman was robbed and pushed to the ground by two female youths near a shopping complex in Alice Springs.

Authorities said the pregnant woman was walking towards Railway Terrace when she was approached by the youths. The woman told police that they asked her for cash before being forcefully pushed to the ground and assaulted.

The two youths stole her phone and purse and fled before a bystander forced them to drop the items as they escaped into an unidentified getaway vehicle, police said.

“The victim was shaken from the assault, but did not suffer any serious injuries,” Mr Cross said.

Then, later still on Wednesday afternoon, police responded to a single vehicle crash on Whittaker Street involving the gold Suzuki Vitara with the occupants having left the scene.

“Investigations led to the arrest of the 16-year-old female, who was taken back to the Alice Springs Watch House where she remains in custody,” Mr Cross said.

Police did not say if they are looking for the girl’s alleged accomplice or accomplices, or if the girl is being charged for all of the alleged offences.

Latest crime spree bigger than report in Alice by police: community advocate

Locals say the extent of the latest crime spree has escalated to new levels and clearly involves more than one child.

Action for Alice Facebook page community manager Darren Clark told the NT Independent that there were around 30 cars stolen in the last fortnight.

“There were seven last night, 12 in one night a week ago, so we have to be at 30. That is not including all the motorbikes,” Mr Clark said.

He added that there were 12 break-ins reported in one night recently.

Mr Clark on Thursday posted numerous shattered glass windows in several CBD businesses to the community page.

They include Vinnies Alice Springs, Red Rooster, and an automated teller machine in Todd Mall.

“This is what I know about, think of all the others that we don’t know about?” he said.

“The kids are terrorizing the CBD, trashing shops, harassing staff, kids are armed, I don’t know how to explain it anymore.”