Arabic version: اعتقال ثلاثة رجال بعد سرقة مركبة من قاعدة سلاح الجو الملكي الأسترالي
According to ABC News, Northern Territory Police arrested three men in Wadeye after a Ford Ranger was allegedly stolen from Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin and used in an alleged crime spree.
Police and defence officials said a man allegedly unlawfully entered the base on Monday, assaulted an Australian Defence Force member and stole a white Ford Ranger security vehicle. The ute was then allegedly used in Greater Darwin, including the alleged theft of a tradie’s tools in Zuccoli and fuel from a service station in Coolalinga.
The vehicle was later seen travelling south on the Stuart Highway. Police began a pursuit but discontinued it near Palmerston after officers lost sight of the vehicle, an NT Police spokesperson said. Strike Force Trident officers later determined that multiple offenders had used the vehicle to travel to Wadeye.
Local police located and arrested three males in Wadeye on Wednesday evening, more than 400 kilometres from RAAF Base Darwin. They remained in custody and were expected to be charged with multiple offences relating to the use of the stolen vehicle. Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Burns said Wadeye Police recovered the Ranger and that investigators suspected further offenders were involved.
The arrests occurred during what Acting Superintendent Josh Cunningham described as a heightened period of unrest in Wadeye. Earlier in the week, up to 100 people were involved in a disturbance while allegedly armed with compound bows, spears and metal objects. Police said investigations into the alleged theft, assault and subsequent offending were continuing.
