People who found a stolen car in Darwin after recognising it from a Facebook post may have unwittingly helped criminals by contaminating the scene with their scent, throwing off police sniffer dogs.

Break-ins and car thefts in Darwin have been a hot topic on local media in recent weeks, amid a perceived rise in crime.

Eleven cars were stolen in the final week of January, and NT Police revealed yesterday explosive devices they will use to deflate the tyres of stolen cars.

Last night police chased a car in Palmerston that had been stolen from the suburb of Fannie Bay in December, but gave up pursuit when it became too dangerous.

"Initial indication was that there were three people inside the stolen vehicle," Duty Superintendent Rob Burgoyne said.

A message on Facebook indicates someone had sighted the stolen Monaro. ( Supplied: Facebook )

People who had read about the specific theft in the Stolen Cars in Darwin Facebook group, a forum for people to post descriptions of their stolen cars so that other users can keep a look-out for them, later came across the vehicle.

"We were lucky enough that a member of the public — this had been followed on Facebook by the public — reported that the stolen motor vehicle had been abandoned on the Elizabeth River Bridge on the Channel Island Road," Superintendent Burgoyne said.

But he said the amateur sleuths hampered police evidence-collecting by walking around the abandoned car.

"Because the public were involved with the dumping site of the vehicle our dog was unable to pick up a scent.

"So this is always a problem when we do have the public get involved in these sorts of things."

Two people police suspect to be the drivers of the car were picked up nearby, but no charges were laid due to a lack of evidence, Superintendent Burgoyne said.