A popular tourist destination and reptile education centre in Darwin, Crocodylus Park, has become the victim of a bold burglary. The thief gained access by jumping over a fence, breaking into multiple buildings around midnight. Disturbingly, CCTV footage captured the individual even picking up a 65-centimetre crocodile to take selfies before releasing it back to the ground.
Park Manager Emily Moyes confirmed that the young crocodile managed to escape and is currently unaccounted for. She expressed relief that the thief did not take the reptile with him, speculating that the crocodile might be hiding in nearby water sources. Meanwhile, staff remain hopeful that it will be found within days, although the incident has caused distress to more than just this one creature.
During the break-in, the suspect attempted to steal five vehicles, causing damage to two before fleeing in a stolen Holden Rodeo utility, which has since been recovered at Casuarina Beach. Moyes reported significant losses as a result of the theft, with damages estimated to exceed $15,000. This setback poses a serious challenge for the privately run business, which is already wrestling with the pressures of the tourism industry.
Tragically, during the chaos, the thief ran over a family of ducks, and while some ducks have been spotted again, others are still missing. Moyes described the incident as distressing, stating that footage showed the brutal act clearly.
Northern Territory Police are currently investigating but, as of now, no arrests have been made. They urge anyone with information regarding this incident to contact them, quoting reference number NTP2500026561.