BY IAN CROUCH
Lake Macquarie police are investigating an early morning ram raid at Toronto.
Police were called to The Boulevarde at about 2.45am on Thursday.
They were told a white Ford Ranger utility had rammed a storage shed.
During the incident a group of people stole tobacco products from the shed before leaving the scene.
Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue.
BY IAN CROUCH
Two teenage boys have charged over the alleged assault of two bus drivers in separate incidents last week.
Police have been told three males were fighting on a bus last Thursday when the driver stopped at New Lambton Heights are asked them to get off.
When leaving it's alleged one of the teens punched the driver.
A short time later the males boarded another bus and allegedly began causing a disturbance to passengers.
The bus stopped at Glendale where the passengers got off, but police say the trio forced open the rear door and assaulted the second driver.
Both drivers suffered minor injuries but were not taken to hospital.
Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 14-year-old boy on Tuesday.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with two counts of common assault, stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear or harm, and hindering police in the execution of their duty.
He faced the children's court on yesterday and was refused bail to face the same court next Monday, February 24.
Further inquiries led to the arrest of a second 14-year-old boy yesterday.
He was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with common assault and affray.
He was granted strict conditional bail to face the children's court on Monday February 24.
Inquiries into the incident are continuing.
BY IAN CROUCH
Singleton Councillors have supported a Notice of Motion to write to the local state and federal members seeking support to deal with a growing flying fox problem.
Bats have long roosted in Burdekin Park, but they are now roosting in large numbers in nearby streets, causing noise and major sanitation issues for residents, business owners and a childcare centre.
Councillors voted overnight to seek approval to lop trees in the hope the bats will move on.
Councillor Hollee Jenkins told council more needs to be done to address the issue.
"Whether there's any new technology available to us which we could try with sound attenuation, or whether or not the flying foxes are still on the endangered list - these are all questions I'd expect our state and federal representatives to push on our behalf", she said.
Councillor Jenkins said she was not in favour of culling the flying foxes but having them living alongside residents is not acceptable.
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have arrested four people in connection with illegal trail bike offences in the Windale area.
With the help of the Polair helicopter, several trail bikes were tracked to a home in Moorilla Close.
Two men who police alleged were seen riding unregistered motorbikes at speed and doing wheelies around South Street, were arrested.
The pair aged 20, have been charged with several traffic offences and are due to face court on April 9.
Police also seized an unregistered motor bike.
While at the home it's alleged two males, one aged 15, assaulted police.
The older male has bee charged and the teenager will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
BY PETER HYSLOP
A man has been charged in Newcastle over alleged drug and driving offences following an investigation into a crash at Tingira Heights.
Earlier this month officers were called to Violet Town Road following reports a car had crashed into a fence.
The driver of the ute struck an officer and escaped, the officer sustained minor injuries.
Yesterday, police stopped a car in Newcastle on Perkins Street, they will allege the driver is the man responsible.
A 22-year-old has been charged with multiple offences including causing bodily harm by misconduct and has been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.
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| Violet Town Road. Credit: Google Maps |
BY IAN CROUCH
An elderly man has been taken to hospital after a crash involving a bus and a car at Waratah.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Turton Road and Georgetown Road just before 11.00am on Tuesday to reports a BMW hatchback had collided with a bus.
The driver of the car was trapped, and fire crews removed the side of the vehicle to free him.
NSW Ambulance says the elderly man was taken to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition with leg and chest injuries.
Three people on the bus were assessed by paramedics and declined further treatment.
The southbound lanes of Turton Road were closed for more than an hour while emergency services treated the injured man and worked to clear the scene.
BY PETER HYSLOP
Port Stephens and Hunter police are on the lookout for a missing teenager from Rutherford.
13-year-old Austin was last seen in the area at about 6pm on Saturday.
He's known to use public transport and may be in the Central Coast or Sydney.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
