NT robbers surprised by waiting police

Two men who broke into an Alice Springs bar were surprised to find police officers waiting for them.

One of the men, aged 36, had broken into the bar twice before, and police were waiting on a hunch that robbers might strike again.

He and his 20-year-old accomplice were arrested at the scene on Wednesday night at about 11.15pm, and charged with a number of offences, including unlawful entry, property damage, and stealing.

The bar had lost several thousand dollars worth of alcohol over several recent break-ins, a police spokeswoman told AAP.