An “extensive search” is underway in Katherine for a group of alleged masked offenders who evaded police and fled into bushland following an overnight crime spree in a white Toyota Landcruiser, that involved ramraiding a local restaurant and threatening a service station employee with a weapon, NT Police said.

Police said the crime spree kicked off around 2:30am, when five masked occupants of the Landcruiser drove off without paying for fuel from a service station on Bicentennial Road, with the police appearing to suggest in a statement that the failure to report that crime, led to others being committed around town.

“This incident was not reported to police at the time, leading to further criminal activity,” police media director Mark Wilton said in a statement.

“Shortly afterwards, the same Landcruiser was used to ram the front entrance of a restaurant on Giles Street. Several offenders forced entry, causing damage to the premises. One offender was seen wielding a large, edged weapon, while others vandalised the restaurant and threw full cans at the windows before fleeing.

“Police were dispatched immediately upon receiving the report.”

But at 3:37am, the Landcruiser returned to the Bicentennial Road servo where one of the occupants threatened the sole operator – presumably with a weapon – before a duress alarm was activated, which resulted in police calling it an attempted aggravated robbery.

“Despite a swift response and coordinated efforts by Katherine General Duties units and CCTV operators, the offenders evaded capture and fled into bushland,” Mr Wilton said.

“An extensive search is underway.”

Police added in the statement that another business was broken into on Katherine Terrace overnight, but did not provide a time for that, stating that “keys and a vehicle are believed to have been stolen”.

“Northern Territory Police are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage related to these incidents to contact 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000,” police said.