A 22-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly threatening a taxi driver with a screwdriver and telling him he would kill him before stealing the vehicle in Malak overnight, NT Police said.

Police director of communications Mark Wilton said the driver went to a Boucaut Court, Malak address around 11:50pm Monday when the passenger reportedly pulled a screwdriver, threatened to kill him, then forced the driver out, and drove off with the taxi.

Mr Wilton said officers tracked the man to an unspecified Parap address shortly afterwards and recovered the stolen vehicle nearby.

He said the man has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, being armed with an offensive weapon at night, driving while unlicensed, disorderly behaviour in a public place, careless driving, making threats to kill, and breaching a suspended sentence.

Mr Wilton said the offender is due to appear in Darwin Local Court later today.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 131 444 (quote reference P25240432), or make an anonymous report by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through the Crime Stoppers website.