NT Police have warned the public not to approach a dangerous offender, after suppressing for almost 24 hours that he was on the run after breaking into a house with a gun on Sunday, who was once jailed over an outback crime spree committed while he was on the lam, which included him pulling a knife on a tourist.

NT Police issued a statement just before 2pm Monday, stating they were looking for Jermaine Austral, who they alleged broke into a Johnston home, armed with a firearm about 2:10pm Sunday, before running away from the scene soon after.

On Monday afternoon they warned the public not to approach Austral if they see him.

The NT Independent was sent photos of police in the Bear Cat armoured vehicle, which is used by the Territory Response Group, which was said to be at a house in Moray St, Karama in Darwin’s northern suburbs on Sunday afternoon. There were other photos and accounts of what happened on the Karama Community NT Australia Facebook page.

In the statement, Detective Sergeant Michael Ordelman said they were looking for the 27-year-old who he said could help with an “ongoing investigation”. Police did not explain if the ongoing investigation was into a different alleged crime or crimes, or was about the house break-in, and did not answer follow up questions.

Srg Ordelman later told the NT News Mr Austral was wanted for outstanding warrants but did not specify what the alleged crimes were.

NT Police also did not explain why they had taken 24 hours to inform they public there was a man with a gun on the loose.

The Bear Cat when it was said to be in Moray St Karama. Picture: Facebook

Sgt Ordelman said after police received reports of the alleged break-in, they formulated an arrest plan with investigators from the Serious Crime unit, the Dog Operations unit, the TRG, and general duties, with officers deployed into Johnston and Darwin’s northern suburbs.

Police made no mention of Mr Austral allegedly being in the Karama home, or why they thought he was, and did not disclose that the TRG used the armoured vehicle but failed to arrest him.

However, they later confirmed to the NT News that police had been at a house in Karama but did not find him there.

They did not say if Mr Austral was confirmed to have been at the house, if there were residents at the house at the time, and if the they knew him.

Sgt Ordelman said in the statement that police could not find Mr Austral and asked the public to call NT Police if they knew where he was.

In March 2019, Ms Austral was jailed for up to five years, sentenced alongside his criminal sidekick Joshua Davis.

The NT News reported at the time that the Supreme Court was told Mr Austral, then 22, broke out of Alice Springs jail on December 23, 2016 and began a crime spree by stealing a truck from Aileron roadhouse owner Greg Dick a week later.

The paper reported that Mr Austral, along with Mr Davis and Rhys McLean, stopped at Ryan’s Well roadside stop, with someone punching tourist Barnabus Latham in the mouth, dislodging a tooth.

Austral then pulled a 30cm knife on a third tourist who had stepped in to help, before stealing that man’s Holden Rodeo.

The court report said at least one of the tourists vowed never to return to the Territory.

The trio of men – with associates – smashed their way into the Stuart Wells roadhouse three days later, stealing more than $9000 worth of goods and causing thousands more in damage.

Austral was later arrested in Broken Hill after being the target of a police pursuit, and was extradited to the Territory in January 2017.