SYDNEY JUNCTION HOTEL – Third Person Arrested Following September Hold Up

Police say they’ve arrested a third person over the Sydney Junction Hotel hold up involving a Tina Turner style wig.

In the early hours of September 12 a man in a black and brown wig allegedly threatened staff with a firearm before making off with cash on the back of an e-bike west on Hudson Street.

A bag was later seized containing $30,020.

A man and a woman are before the courts charged over the incident.

In a traffic stop on Alick street at Belmont yesterday police arrested a 35-year-old man. He’s been charged with tampering a door and being the getaway e-bike rider.

He’s facing court today.

Credit / NSW Police

BREAKING! Service Station Worker Threatened With Knife At Kurri Kurri

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for a man who allegedly threatened a service station worker with a knife at Kurri Kurri overnight.

Police say the man walked into the Lang Street business at about 9.45pm in Tuesday 4 November, 2025 and was confronted by an employee after he was seen attempting to steal items.

It's alleged the worker was threatened with a knife before the man left the store with the items.

The employee, a 24-year-old man, wasn't injured.

Police have set a crime scene and are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.  

 

Appeal Launched To Find Missing Lake Macquarie Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for help to find a teenage boy who's gone missing from Belmont.

15-year-old Declan Hannaford was last seen at about 5.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 4 November, 2025) in Edgeworth and police and family hold concerns for his welfare due to his young age.

He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 110cm tall with a medium build and dark hair, and was last seen wearing dark-coloured clothing.

Police believe he may be in the Rutherford area.

Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is urged to contact Belmont Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing teen Declan Hannaford

 

Truck up in Flames at Warabrook

 A truck carrying diesel has gone up in flames at the Transgrid substation at Warabrook, near the University of Newcastle.

Fire and Rescue says crews were waiting for the power to be switched off before firefighters could pour water on the blaze.

Local residents are being advised of possible pollution from the accident.

Warabrook substation. Credit / Google Maps

Oui Oui to Pay Rise – Newcastle Bus Drivers Protest

 The Rail Tram and Bus Union says Newcastle and Lake Macquarie drivers are wearing berets as part of a “Calendar of Chaos” in a bid to get management back to the enterprise bargaining table.

Drivers want a pay increase and safety provisions from the French firm, and the union’s warning of more action later this month if an agreement can’t be reached.

Tram and Bus Divisional Secretary David Babineau says it’s been tricky engaging with the overseas company.

“There’s some cute actions like the berets, which obviously highlights the fact that Keolis as a company is three quarters owned by the French Government. So we’re trying not to impact people but the last week of the calendar there are actions scheduled which will impact services,” he said.

“It’s been extremely difficult and, if the company’s just turning around and saying, ‘we’re not going to meet,’ there’s not much you can do about it.

“If we have progress and the members are satisfied with it, then we can look at not taking those actions,” he said.

Supplied: Rail Tram and Bus Union

Man Arrested Over Cessnock Club Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court in November accused of deliberately setting fire to community club at Cessnock earlier this month.

Around 8.00am on Sunday October 19, Police were called to reports of a fire at the PCYC in Short Street, arriving to find entry had been gained into the foyer area and a fire set with what they believed was an accelerant.

The fire failed to spread before self-extinguishing.

Following investigations, police arrested a 39-year-old man at a house in Kurri Kurri yesterday morning.

He was charged with break and enter with intent to commit serious indictable offence and damage property by fire.

The man's been granted strict conditional bail to face Cessnock Court on November 19.

 

Fire Crews Called To Blaze At Wire Rope Factory In Mayfield East

 BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters have been called to an industrial complex at Mayfield East.

Newcastle Fire Command says crews responded to an automatic fire alarm at the Bekaert Wire Rope factory in George Street just before 3.00am today (Wednesday 29 October 2025) to find a vat containing 7000 litres of grease inside a 300 by 100 metre tin building on fire.

7 fire trucks were called to the incident however the automatic sprinkler system and quick work by firefighters suppressed the flames, with the fire completely extinguished by 4.10am.

Two crews remain on scene to cool the vat with water and prevent re-ignition.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.