The surging rate of youth crime in Alice Springs has made international headlines in recent weeks but, as most grey nomads already know, the problems are not restricted to the Central Australian town.
Last April, some tourists were reportedly changing their travel plans because escalating crime had made them ‘scared’ to go to WA’s Kimberley region.
Derby caravan park manager, Anne Thomas, said at the time that other travellers were bypassing the town and heading straight through on travels further north or south.
It’s a similar story elsewhere.
There’s been a rise in anti-social behaviour in Port Augusta and, in Halls Creek, the number of stealing, burglary and property damage offences has tripled in the past decade.
Alice Springs has been making headlines … for all the wrong reasons! PIC: Grungly / Pixabay
It can, of course, have a direct effect on grey nomads, with youths reportedly coming through some caravan parks looking to grab wallets, car keys, alcohol, cigarettes … anything they can take.
Grey nomad Ross Mark said he was staying at a van park near Mount Isa in Queensland when he was woken by a torch light and saw two boys.
“When I yelled out, at the same time leaping from the bed, one of them ripped my wife’s bag off the hook beside the door,” he said. “Charging to the door, they left just as quick and fled up the road.”
Wearing his underpants and with no shoes on, Ross instinctively gave chase but the boys ran up a hill and disappeared.
He said police later told him: “This is a common occurrence, we’ll probably have another six to eight of these incidents tonight”.
However, Ross still partly blames himself.
“Several times before 2.30am I left the van to use the park’s toilet,” he said. “Obviously, on this occasion, I had forgotten to lock the van door and they had been watching my every move.”
Crime though is a fact of life pretty much anywhere in the world, and the vast majority of grey nomads happily ‘live the dream’ without being the victims of theft or worse.
“Of course, I was aware of anti-social behaviour when we were in Alice Springs and elsewhere,” said grey nomad, Cynthia Kay. “But I tried to be as careful as I could be and then not let ‘what ifs’ spoil my enjoyment of some fantastic places … and it didn’t.”
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Well I certainly won’t stop anywhere there is rampant crime
No we are out too, where crime is rampant, we will avoid it as well. If that means half of the businesses in the country go broke due to lack of tourists, because it is unsafe in those area’s then so be it.
We’ve stayed at many of the places that are currently experiencing an increase in youth crime.
We wont be going back to them.
We are working in Alice at the moment. The rules are simple, keep your doors locked, don’t have alcohol smokes or money where they can see it and don’t go into the cbd after dark. Alice is a great place to visit, just use common sense as you should use everywhere
My caravan club has just cancelled their national gathering to Alice Springs. This is the second time it has been cancelled – the first one was due to Covid. This is not good for the caravan park, and also a lot of money that the town is missing out on in tours, sight seeing, food, fuel etc. The club members are an older group and Alice was just deemed as too dangerous for them.
Why does the most common caravan door handle stick out saying “Hey everyone, I am not locked”?
Very good point Peter M. It has pros & cons for sure. Yes it’s good for pre travelling checks but in this instance, as you rightly point out, has a downside.
I am 64,I got chased out of Fitzroy crossing near halls gap when I was 22, I lived in Alice Springs on and off from 17 to 21years of age it was a wild town then and still is, nothing has really changed.Would I go back to these places? I have and planning on going back this year.I find in most cases you will meet the decent people be it black or white,I wouldn’t let media hype stop me from travelling this awesome country,not should you.
Being afraid when asleep at night is not worth travelling to these crime ridden areas.. Only a matter of time before one of us is assaulted or killed. Sleeping in a locked van with all windows closed is bad enough,consider those who rely on canvas for their security. Every person I have discussed this matter with has experienced some type of trauma by these undesirables. My van is on the market. Had enough.
We are in South Australia Yorke Peninsula and looking to go to Eyre Peninsula via Port Augusta. Now we think we will drive straight through unfortunately. Worked too hard to start losing our belongings. Sad.
I live near Mambray Creek near Pt Augusta and it’s not what the media makes it out to be never ever had a problem. Have also just stayed in tennant creek , alice springs , jabiru, on the side of the road in parking bays near these, litchfield , uluru and lots of other places through the Nt and Sa no issues anywhere and this was in the last 2 mths . Be respectful use common sense .and go enjoy this country lifes way too short to be scared…
Johnny and Jan have summed up us oldies view in a nutshell. What more is there to say. Nailed it folks.
Avan Club off Australia just cancelled there large annual get together,at the last moment in Alice springs became the place not too go at present Such a shame, would have ment so much to the local businesses with such a large gathering.
Not only do we check our door lock before going to bed I also wrap a short occy strap around the door handle & adjacent internal grab handle. Even if they get past the lock they will make one almighty racket in attempting to open the door. Yes the door handle might get broken but for the sake of a $100 part we feel much safer.
Time for our FIFO PM to do a bit in this area.
I only have 1thing to say under age or not no bail because they have to learn bloody respect
Locking kids up is not the solution !!
besides being heartless it is not the solution and only makes things worse.
Try some constructive criticism on the underlying issues of poverty education healthcare etc.
Kids by definition only. Really adults in kids bodies committing crime on innocents. Often violent. Define lock up.
Mine would be on a very structured farm, a better environment than they are often living in. Then they could make a choice. Do the crime and do the time.
Often they are working for someone,
Like a gang they have to deliver to their boss on a daily basis for their glue grog place to stay etc
Shame is a learnt emotion has to taught at a very young age, without it they just don’t care.
Will you ever win a war when you don’t take prisoners.
Totally agree
Action is needed not more pointless talk
The problem with the kids of today is the education there told by schools and the government that they can not be smacked for miss behaviour that they have just as much rights as the parents as an adult and then they feel that what the hell you can’t tell me what to do I’ll do what I won’t and you can’t stop me that’s the problem with the kids to many goody to shoes
Agree
I agree
yes it has nobody was a bang on the head for the sake of a few bucks or car keys I blame the lame state governments all talk and no action
As a solo traveller im not about going to alice now if i do i think i will be staying at one of the free camps outside of town
We r young traveller’s and find this very disturbing so we will keep travelling but we will defend our property too what ever it takes
After reading everyone’s comments it’s occurring to me “this is no holiday environment,stay home Larry”
We avoid any towns with problems. Just don’t need the hassle. We camp away from centre of towns in free camps. Soon some of these towns will be come ghettos. We all know who the culprits are. They are just lost people who have a chip on there shoulder that is getting larger and larger. We just feel insecure when there around, anything could happen. We have witnessed verbal fights in main streets in broad daylight. Have been asked for money and alcohol many times. Have seen town camps that are just disgusting. They say “this is my land” but then have NO RESPECT for it. Garbage everywhere. It’s getting worse in the 3yrs we have been travelling full time. You asked for our experiences so this is it.
It’s all media hype and don’t be scared
People are scared of snakes and will be avoiding visiting Australia because they are scared of snakes. I have my own fears but it’s all just anxiety of a future outcome that most likely won’t happen
Visited Barcelona years ago and was warned about pick pockets and other scams, had the best time there
Life is too short to live in fear of some youths taking your alcohol, smokes or cash
We travelled the area April last year, stayed un Wintersun Van Park in Alice, then Tennant Creek Van Park. Yep heard the locals, but no probs, just use common sense with security and no probs. Get out and enjoy yourself in this exciting country
Always wanted to go to Henley on Todd and planning has been under way for 8 months. Despite booking into a “secure resort”, wondering if the event will even go ahead let alone concerns over theft and damage
Halls Creek caravan park was a scary place to stay 25 years ago. Fueled with alcohol and anger young adults would wander the park looking for what they could steal. They would also use and leave the ablution block in a disgusting state that was unusable till it was cleaned early each morning. One night in Halls Creek was enough for me.
No way will we be travelling north again .
Finally retired and have been looking to travel to NT and wa for decades! Knocked few bob together for trip FINALLY!
Now I’m not interested as things have escalated with youth and other crime !
I’ll stay traveling EAST COAST hvant seen all of it but it’s getting close ! Tha reason for not going nth and west , way back in 80’s a kiwi mate brought the family over on long Outback HOLYDAY in hired motor home ! Parked it in “SAFE CARPAK “ and went hiking through Kimberly’s couple days ! OSOME HE SAID IT WAS TILL THEY GOT BACK ! The only thing left in motorhome was engine and running gear . So they drove to Darwin airport went back home to NZ ! Still decided to move to oz ( as u do) but NEVER WEN WEST ! Not things are MUCH WORSE THAN BACK THAN ! So why put my self through the possibility of being robed or even hurt ! Shame yes !
But I’ll stay with what I know !
So I WILL NOT C U IN NT !!
WO6!!
Love Alice Springs..but have always stayed at campgrounds outside city centre ,with not a worry in the world.
I’d like to call it like it is ? But unfortunately we can’t do that anymore. Same policies get the same results, so we need to re think & apply different policies/ideas
Hi we recently travelled from Central Coast to Darwin, Alice then to SA and home. Yes we had an attempted break in into our motorhome but all had been secured. I had also purchased a door alarm from ebay which emits an extremely loud unpleasant siren.
I travelled from Darwin Tennant Creek Alice in 1975 I am a tad older
I was young and those places were wild then Nothing has changed and as you get older you don’t need that
Stress so I look for nice country towns in Vic or SA
All I get from this is the same as leaving the keys on the first flat surface inside the front door; why would you leave your bag, and all its contents, right at the front door?
All you pple living in fear,just stay at home,& grow older then, put your vans up for sale,& your travel plans on hold. No good traveling this awesome country in uncontrollable fear. Just Watch someone elses travels ,& misadventures on tv ,& miss out,let someone else see the sights,& eat the local delicacies for you, at least you will be home safe.
But remember.. everytime you walk out the front door you are inviting something to happen, be it good or bad.Australia is all abt leaving your comfort zones,& joining in on the adventure. So just go do it! Life be in it!,& Let whatever happens happen.
Common sense is the key.
I was going up through Alice Springs this year via the great central but will be taking a different route now to cairn’s from wa
If you have never been the the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, don’t pass up the chance. Magnificent. Alice is a special place, I lived there for 7 years. Be careful and stay in Caravan parks, don’t go out after dark and you will have a wonderful time.
Criminology student here. Disregard 90% of what the mass media decides is”newsworthy””. I’ve travelled all over Australia and visited most of the so-called problem areas such as Port Augusta, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, Broome, Wyndham Kununnurra, & while I mostly bush camp I haven’t had any problems in these areas. The only time my car got broken into was in my own driveway.
Life’s too short to get sucked in by a mass media moral panic
Teaching centres gov funded running 24 hours a day , sports ,games , workshops internet including elders in the running of them it would keep them off the streetsc giving them something to do and learn maybe even a motorcycle track …
I won’t be travelling back to Alice Springs although it’s happening in many other towns with high aboriginal community, never had issues in other towns unfortunately they are jumping on the band wagon. Need to place your valuables keys money and wallets in a secure place, thinking of placing a alarm on the main door, it’s shame we have to do this hopefully it will calm down if the elders take a bigger role.
I certainly won’t change my plans for a few undisciplined kids. They just want attention, so, I’ll give it to them, then tie them to my bullbar, and teach them a bit about respect. Worked in Alice Springs, Weipa, Broome, and Karratha…
we have given travel in the north a miss because of the problems and won’t go back