Teen charged after allegedly grabbing crocodile at tourist park

Wednesday, 19 March 2025 18:02

After a week on the run, a 19-year-old male who allegedly targeted and broke into a beloved Darwin tourist attraction last week has been charged with multiple offences.

After a week on the run, a man who allegedly targeted and broke into a beloved Darwin tourist attraction last week has been charged with multiple offences.

Northern Territory Police Strike Force Trident and Dog Operations Unit members tracked down 19-year-old Jeremy Peckham at a residence in Malak yesterday around 2:15pm and apprehended him without incident.

Crocodylus Park told 9News last week that the man's crime spree around midnight on Thursday caused around $15,000 in damage after he unlawfully entered the premises, interfered with a croc, stole a Holden Rodeo ute and used it to ram through multiple gates.

A beloved Darwin tourist attraction and reptile education centre was targeted by a brazen thief, who unlawfully entered the premises, stole a Holden Rodeo utility and used it to ram through multiple gates.

The ute was found at Casuarina Beach burnt out, but it wasn't the only car allegedly destroyed by the offender, who is accused of damaging two vehicles and attempting to steal two others.

"We are privately run, and tourism is a tough business as hard as it is," park manager Emily Moyes said.

"This is a huge setback for us."

The whole incident was captured on the Park's extensive CCTV, which also appeared to show the offender picking up a 65-centimetre crocodile and taking selfies with it before placing it on the ground.

The crocodile managed to escape his grasp and went missing in the park.

"(We're) very lucky and fortunate that this particular individual hasn't decided to take the crocodile with him," she said.

CCTV also appeared to show the alleged thief running over a family of ducks before escaping in the stolen ute.

The thief also ran over a family of ducks before making his escape in the stolen car.

"In the footage, you can clearly see him running over the family. It's not very nice at all," Moyes said.

"We have seen them again, but we do have a few missing."

Peckham has been charged with burglary, four counts of damage to property and two counts of trespass - entering without authority.

He was also charged with theft and charged with one count of taking/interfering with protected wildlife.

He was also hit with multiple driving charges, including driving, using/riding a motor vehicle without consent, being a learner driver with no person in the front seat, and driving without L plates when required.

The 19-year-old appeared in Darwin Local Court today and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear in court again on Friday.

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