Information sought about Gungahlin district offences

ACT Policing is seeking information about three incidents in the Gungahlin district overnight (19-20 August 2022).

About 7.00pm Friday, 19 August 2022, four people entered the Palmerston IGA and left the store without paying for alcohol. When confronted by the store owner, one of the offenders produced a knife, and the offenders fled along a nearby greenbelt.

About 11.10pm Friday, a man was confronted by a group of people as he exited his vehicle on Flemington Road, Franklin. One of the group held a knife towards the man and slashed one of his car’s tyres before the group ran from the area.

A search of the area by police officers assisted by the AFP Canine Team located five people aged 13 or 14, at varying stages of intoxication, who were placed under arrest. Four of these teenagers were released into the custody of their guardians, with the fifth taken into custody and charged with offences from July 2022.

About 12.10am Saturday, 20 August 2022, a further six teenagers suspected of being involved in the Franklin incident were identified on a stationary light rail vehicle in the Gungahlin Town Centre.

A 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl in this group were arrested in connection with the earlier Palmerston robbery; and a knife police believe was the one used in both earlier incidents was located on a the girl.

Formal interviews of the young people arrested will be held in the coming days and police expect to lay charges via summons.

Anyone who witnessed the above incidents, or any other antisocial behaviour involving young people in the Gungahlin district overnight is urged to contact CrimeStoppers ACT on 1800 333 000 or via the website.

Quote reference 7192563. Information can be provided anonymously.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au