Chopper spies alleged child burglars in NT

Six children who are accused of going on a crime spree in the NT have been arrested after a resident used his helicopter to track them.

A Northern Territory man used his own helicopter to track down a gang of children who allegedly tried to break into his home.

NT Police say two girls and four boys aged between nine and 14 have been arrested after they broke into a Palmerston home and stole a car in the early hours of Friday.

They say the children drove the car to the rural area of Noonamah where they set it alight, causing a small scrub fire, before trying to break into a nearby home.

"The resident, who owns a helicopter, notified police that the youths had fled into scrubland and that he was able to track them with the use of his helicopter," Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer said in a statement.

"Police attended and with the help of his eyes in the sky, all six youths were apprehended."

Police expect to lay charges against the group at a later date.