George Sabadin says he chased a 10-year-old off his Alice Springs property before discovering a shocking crime in his backyard.

Key points:

Two children, aged 10 and eight, bludgeon six birds to death in an Alice Springs backyard

Two children, aged 10 and eight, bludgeon six birds to death in an Alice Springs backyard Residents call for action after a perceived crime spike, but police say actual crime statistics are down

Residents call for action after a perceived crime spike, but police say actual crime statistics are down The Independent member for Araluen has tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce a youth curfew

"They killed five pink Bourke's parrots and one albino budgie with pink eyes that I was hoping to breed with," he said.

Mr Sabadin has lived in the town for 60 years and said crime levels were the worst he had seen.

"People can't walk around town breaking into shops and breaking into people's houses … it is hurting the town, the town is bleeding."

Bloodshed in bird haven

A rare pink Bourke parrot was one of five killed recently in a residential backyard in Alice Springs by two children, aged 10 and eight. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

Mr Sabadin and his son have spent years breeding and housing at least 300 birds from around the world.

The two children entered the property and used Mr Sabadin's boltcutters to enter one of the aviaries where they used one of the perches as a weapon.

"They took [the perch] off and hit them with that," Mr Sabadin said.

They also used a small piece of steel tubing.

"That's the ammunition that we're dealing with. What chance has the bird got if you hit them with a piece of steel?"

Mr Sabadin was devastated to find his birds bludgeoned to death by two children. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

Mr Sabadin was one of many Alice Springs residents who believed the community was in the grip of a worsening crime crisis.

"It's time the justice system gets off its backside and fixed the problem of this time," he said, calling on the Chief Minister to take action.

"When is he going to fix it? The problem has got to be fixed now."

A spokesperson for NT Police said the 10-year-old was dealt with under the Youth Justice Act, while the eight-year-old, who is not yet at the age of criminal responsibly, had been referred to Territory Families.

'We're working on it'

Dale Wakefield, the Minister for Territory Families and Member for Braitling, said she was very concerned about the level of distress in the Alice Springs community regarding youth crime.

Ms Wakefield insisted youth worker patrols and increased CCTV were working to fix the problem at night, though people were telling her things were worsening during the day.

"We've got more to do," she said.

"I am not backing away from that, but this is a long-term issue.

"We do need to hold our nerve and make sure we're investing where we know things are going to work."

Northern Territory Crime Statistics Alice Springs December 2019 ( ABC Alice Springs: Paul Serratore )

Businesses at breaking point

Alana Richardson, executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce in Central Australia, said the business community wanted to see more immediate solutions.

She said more businesses in the town were locking their doors during opening hours and having customers knock or ring a doorbell to enter, following increased harassment and intimidation from groups of young people.

Ms Richardson also confirmed that some businesses were bribing young people with snacks to ensure they did not cause trouble on the premises.



"There are a number of businesses that feel as though that is the best course of action, to offer these kids packets of chips or lollies or whatever, just so they'll take what they want and get out of the shop, rather than coming in and ransacking or stealing or harassing or intimidating the staff."

Ms Richardson said authorities were now well aware of the problem and she wanted to see tangible solutions in weeks, rather than months.

Residents say Alice Springs is in the grip of a crime wave. ( ABC News: Bridget Judd )

Police increase numbers

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker visited Alice Springs to speak with several businesses affected by crime and said he was concerned with what he had heard.

He subsequently announced extra officers had been sent to Alice Springs and patrols would increase.

The NT Government also promised 30 graduate constables would arrive in Alice Springs after May.

Mr Chalker said there were broader social issues to consider in relation to the cause of youth crime and authorities were working to reduce it.

"We've got broader issues [such as] foetal alcohol spectrum disorder [FASD] — that's now something that's becoming more prominent," he said.

"There's all these social complexities that we need to work towards, but the clear message I want to give to the residents of Alice Springs is we are here to help."

The police union, meanwhile, said it had concerns that the newly announced officers would not cover the existing vacancies within the force.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker says police graduates will be sent to Alice Springs in May. ( ABC: Hamish Harty )

Education not as easy as ABC

Another issue is the number of children not attending school.

Jono Schwalger, manager of the Alice Springs student engagement team, said his outreach group had spoken to almost 270 children on the streets during school hours.

The NT Education Department's report for 2018–19 found only 33 per cent of Aboriginal students attended school four days a week or more, compared to 84 per cent of non-Aboriginal students.

In recent weeks, telecommunication failures in a number of remote communities had caused families to come into Alice Springs for services and supplies.

Education Minister Selena Uibo said her department was making several changes to address the issue, including identifying key areas where young people were congregating.

"Using the library and also around the council lawns, so how can we look at that as a starting point with our support and with our engagement officers and our staff from the department?" she said.

Michael Liddle, an Alyawerre man who works with young people in Alice Springs. ( ABC Alice Springs: Katrina Beavan )

'They don't know nothing good'

Michael Liddle, an Alyawerre man who works with young people in Alice Springs, highlighted the importance of education and the sense of a life purpose in combatting youth crime.

"They commute here for Centrelink, health, court, but what they're not commuting here for is education purposes," Mr Liddle said.

"They're just going to be kids, with no identity, they don't know white fella way, they don't know black fella way."

He said high incarceration rates and alcohol abuse were having dire consequences, creating an absence of strong male role models for young people.

"They don't know nothing good that you and I appreciate … when you tell them a bad story, they laugh," he said.

"We explain to these young fellas about the young fella who was shot at Yuendumu not so long ago, and they all laugh their heads off … these are people with no feelings."

Robyn Lambley has launched a petition to stop children from roaming the streets at night. ( ABC Alice Springs: Emma Haskin )

Calls for a curfew

In late 2019, Robyn Lambley, the Independent Member for Araluen, unsuccessfully put forward a motion in the NT Parliament for a formal youth curfew.

She is circulating a youth curfew petition that she plans to take back to the parliament.

The Country Liberal Party (CLP) has said that, if elected, it would roll out a curfew if one was supported by the Alice Springs community.

At present, the Government and police do not support a youth curfew.