In the early hours of Friday, the Northern Territory Police Dog Operations Unit (DOU) displayed exceptional expertise in tracking down and apprehending three individuals involved in a brazen vehicle theft and a series of dangerous incidents in Daly River.

Just after 2am, a red Toyota 80 series was reported stolen from the car park of a tourist park in Adelaide River. Soon after, the stolen vehicle was spotted in Daly River Community, where three youths were seen inside. They engaged in reckless driving, performed dangerous stunts such as burnouts, and endangered the lives of community members, and deliberately ramming the vehicle into a house.

Daly River Police promptly responded, embarking on a multi-hour search for the vehicle, which repeatedly veered off-road when sighted. With the support of additional units deployed, including Trident, Darwin Traffic Ops and Adelaide River, alongside the Dog Operations Unit, a coordinated effort was launched to track down the offenders. Upon their return to Adelaide River and abandonment of the vehicle, the trio fled into rugged bushland.

Despite the challenging landscape, the Dog Operations Unit tracked nearly 15 kilometres through diverse terrain including scrub, billabongs, where Patrol Dog Wedge even encountered a large boar, flood plains and an eerie forest, eventually cornered the trio.  

The three offenders, aged between 14 and 16, now face charges of multiple property offences, including driving without consent, assaulting a police officer, reckless endangerment, and serious breaches of bail conditions.

They are scheduled to appear before court today