Police have been involved in two pursuits of stolen cars, and have arrested 16 people in total over the theft of five cars since Wednesday in Darwin, while at least one person will also face charges over firing an arrow at a man, NT Police said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said in a statement that at an unspecified time in the early hours of Wednesday, a Mitsubishi Lancer was stolen from a Nightcliff home, and was spotted at an unspecified time later that morning by police on Paterson St, Malak.

He said police then chased the car, and laid out tyres spikes on Parer Drive. The stolen car stopped on Lee Point Rd, Muirhead, where all three youths in the car were arrested. No ages were given but police said they were charged with multiple property offences.

About 3am on Thursday, a “large group” of offenders entered an Eaton carpark and damaged multiple vehicles and stole three others, Snr Sgt Motter-Barnard said.

He said eight offenders, aged between 15 and 21, were arrested, with five being charged for property offences, with further charges expected, and three dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005.

While on Friday at an undisclosed time, five people in a stolen vehicle were involved in multiple unspecified “Incidents”, including one at Coolalinga where “they” fired an arrow at one man and chased a second man who had disturbed them looking through vehicles in a unit complex.

Strike Force Trident officers, the Dog Operations unit and Darwin Traffic Operations cars chased the stole vehicle as it approached Adelaide River and tyre spikes were once again used, Snr Sgt Motter-Barnard said.

The vehicle stopped in the town, he said, with five males, aged between 15 and 22, arrested. They remain in custody.

Police are encouraging anyone with any information to call 131 444, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.