Police take 8yo boy home after alleged Darwin city hotel hold-up

Police say they took an eight-year-old boy home to a responsible adult after he allegedly held up a Darwin hotel yesterday. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)

Northern Territory Police have arrested an 11-year-old boy after he allegedly held up two central Darwin businesses armed with a knife yesterday.

An eight-year-old boy who was allegedly also involved in the hold-up was taken home to a responsible adult.

The 11-year-old boy will face the youth justice court charged with aggravated robbery while the other boy is under the age of criminal responsibility.

Police have charged an 11-year-old boy with armed robbery after he allegedly held up a Darwin fast-food restaurant and hotel at knifepoint yesterday, accompanied by another boy aged just eight.

A Northern Territory Police spokesperson said the pair were wearing balaclavas when they entered the restaurant on Mitchell Street in the central business district about 11:50am.

Police allege one of the boys then pulled a knife on a worker and demanded money from the cash register before the staff member "retreated to safety".

"It is alleged the [boys] then attended a hotel on Cavenagh Street where they threatened a staff member with the knife and attempted to rummage through the reception desk before fleeing on foot," the spokesperson said.

The older boy was remanded in custody and charged with aggravated robbery, while the eight-year-old was taken home and placed into the care of an adult.

The incident follows a string of reported crimes across the NT allegedly involving more than 20 youths during the past two weeks.

Just a week before the latest incident, police arrested two 13-year-old boys after five youths allegedly ransacked a Palmerston petrol station.

The spokesperson said the group, aged between nine and 13, raided the Shell service station on the corner of Yarrawonga Road and Roystonea Avenue on September 6.

Mitchell Street, where the restaurant was allegedly held up, is one of the busiest streets in central Darwin. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)

Two of the boys allegedly ransacked the store, stealing food and drink items before smashing a glass door and accessing the area behind the counter.

Police said one of the group left the shop to round up the four others before the youngest member, aged just nine, threatened a male worker with a pair of scissors.

The ordeal left the man with minor injuries to his hands, wrist and knee.

Investigators allege the group then fled with cigarettes, before police were able to find and arrest two of the 13-year-olds.

One of them, who was on bail at the time, was charged with four offences including aggravated robbery and engaging in violent conduct.

The other boy is facing charges of aggravated robbery and engaging in violent conduct.

Police are continuing to search for the other three boys.