Youths have severely damaged a car, after they unsuccessfully tried to get into a vehicle while the owner was inside, Charles Darwin University has warned, saying that type of activity was expected to increase in the festive season.

In an internal message CDU said security wanted to advise that last Tuesday, December 13, at about 5.15pm, security guards saw seven young people entering a building and “looking suspicious”.

The message said security followed them through several buildings before they went into the Orange B carpark, where they allege they tried “to gain entry into a vehicle whilst the owner was inside”.

“The owner managed to lock the car and minors did not gain entry,” the message said.

“However they did leave the vehicle severely damaged with a broken rear windscreen…”

The message said that as the school holidays approached it was a timely reminder that “this type of activity will increase during the festive season”.

“Please do not leave office spaces unlocked while unattended nor valuable items to be left in vehicles.”