Brazen pub ram-raider caught on camera in Alice Springs

A Northern Territorydriver has been caught on camera carrying out a brazen ram-raid in Alice Springs.

With his face covered, the driver jumps out of the stolen Toyota Rav4 and goes into the Todd Tavern Hotel in the city through the smashed roller door.

He makes two trips inside to steal alcohol.

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Ram-raids like that, at the city's oldest hotel, are becoming an almost daily occurrence in Alice Springs.

Businesses are being forced to install concrete bollards to protect their livelihood.

Paul McCue from the Northern Territory Police Association said officers are finding it "tough".

"Police are only a finite resource. They can't be everywhere all the time and they're feeling very frustrated with this level of crime at the moment," he said.

The latest statistics back up claims crime has escalated over the year to July in the city.

Compared to the same period the year before, commercial break-ins and car thefts have rocketed.

The Police Association says alcohol is a major contributing factor, with more than 200 refusals to sell since the Commonwealth's Stronger Futures legislation, which aimed to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, expired two months ago.

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"We're talking 95 per cent of those because of intoxication, so it's quite clear there's an excess amount of alcohol now in our community," McCue said.

He called for a review of alcohol policy and for police liquor inspectors to be converted to constables to boost the frontline.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles insisted her government is doing its best.

"Alcohol is the biggest social challenge we face in the Northern Territory and as a government, we have done more and we will continue to do more," she said.

Meanwhile, the Police Association has hit out at Public Employment Minister Paul Kirby for failing to meet with them over Labor's proposed wage freeze, labelling the government's pay offer "insulting".

The union says the offer makes it difficult to retain staff, while facing increasing levels of crime.

"We couldn't be more disappointed with him," McCue said.

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The union is calling for police to be recognised for their work over the pandemic and receive a pay rise in line with other states in order to attract and retain staff.