The Alice Springs office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was broken into Sunday night, but the NT Police media unit did not identify the office in a public statement that was only issued after the matter was raised at Estimates hearings.

Police said they are investigating the alleged unlawful entry “of a building in which offenders ransacked multiple offices in Alice Springs overnight”.

The NT Independent has confirmed one of those offices was the DPP, although it is unclear what personal information may have been stolen. The office houses numerous court files, including on all offenders and victims, including victims of rape and child molestation.

When asked about possible breaches of personal information, DPP director Lloyd Babb said that because the matter is under investigation “it would be inappropriate to comment”.

Police said in the statement that their “initial investigations indicate a group of youths unlawfully entered a building on Gregory Terrace sometime between 9pm on Sunday and 1am today”.

“Once inside the building, the group unlawfully entered four businesses on the first level of which they ransacked and caused significant property damage,” Mr Cross said.

He added police were “alerted to the unlawful entry by CCTV operators”, and pursued the group, resulting in three males being arrested near the scene and two more fleeing on foot.

Police did not disclose the ages of the three males arrested or provide a description of the pair still on the loose.

“Strike Force Viper has carriage of the investigation anyone with information to contact police on 131 444 or report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and reference PROMIS number 10037867,” Mr Cross said.