Police are seeking public assistance in relation to an alleged robbery by teenagers in Alice Springs early this morning as the Shadow Minister for Children and Families, Lynne Walker (pictured) expressed fears a further youth service may be shut down.
Police say a 23-year-old man was approached by two male and two female youths near the post office on Parson Street at around 1am.
A 17-year-old male youth allegedly assaulted the victim and stole his backpack. The four youths fled in the direction of the Todd Mall, police say.
The victim caught up with one of the female youths and became involved in an altercation. A red vehicle travelling along Leichardt Terrace stopped and the female youth got into the back seat before it sped off.
A 17-year-old male was arrested and is in police custody assisting with enquiries.
Police say they are looking for the two female youths. One is described as Aboriginal appearance, 16-years-old, 175-180cm tall, solid build and shoulder length curly hair. She was wearing a black tank top, black leggings and black shoes.
The other female is described as, Aboriginal appearance, 16-years-old, 175cm-180cm tall, thin build, dark hair tied back in a ponytail with blonde streaks. She was wearing a black top and black leggings.
Meanwhile Ms Walker has called on the CLP Government to come clean on its plans to shut down another important youth service in Alice Springs, following closure of the Youth Hub.
Ms Walker said she’d heard from concerned youth sector workers that the next target for the CLP’s “slash and burn cost cuts” was the Youth Street Outreach Service (YSOS) that works directly with at-risk young people on the streets.
“YSOS does an invaluable job connecting directly with at-risk kids, many of whom are out on the streets late at night, and making sure these kids are taken to a safe place,” Ms Walker says.
“Police are already overworked dealing with the drunken violence, with alcohol-related violence increasing.
“Central Australians are well aware that crime is a big issue in town, no matter how much Adam Giles tries to say it’s not a problem.”