Two Men Arrested Over Alleged Hunter Valley Crime Spree

 BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Valley Police have arrested and charged two men over a wanton crime spree across the coalfields over the past two months.

Police allege a shop at Huntlee was broken into and various items stolen on June 24.

Three weeks later, a Retirement Village at North Rothbury was extensively damaged by graffiti and a number of fire extinguishers were set off.

Then on Wednesday August 7, various items were stolen from a shop at Huntlee.

Yesterday, (Tuesday 20 August, 2024), officers went to a home at North Rothbury and arrested two men aged 19 and 20.

They've been charged with theft and malicious damage offences.

The 19-year-old is facing Singleton Court today and the 20-year-old is facing the same court on September 19.

BREAKING! Police Investigating 4 Hour Crime Spree Across Hunter Valley

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for four men involved in a 4 hour crime spree across the Hunter Valley overnight.

It all started at Wingen around 8 o'clock on Tuesday night when the group driving a stolen Hyundai Tucson threatened the occupant of a home before leaving and attempting to gain access to a granny flat in the same area, with the occupant chasing 3 away while another stole keys from the flat.

The car was later found burnt out in Everleigh Court at Scone.

Police say the group were involved in aggravated break and enters at Scone and Camberwell and Singleton Heights, with three vehicles stolen.

One was involved in a pursuit at Muswellbrook and was later found partly fire damaged at Camberwell and another dumped.

It's believed the group are now driving a stolen silver Nissan X-Trail with the rego number BI 01 ST which may have been used as a getaway car in an armed hold up on the Rurtherford Hotel just before midnight.

3 men wearing hooded jumpers and surgical masks jumped the counter of the main bar and threatened a male and female employee with scissors and a knife, pulling out empty cash drawers and smashing a change tin before running off with a small amount of cash.

The two workers were not injured.

Large Amount Of Cash Stolen During Lake Macquarie Crime Spree

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for three people after a large amount of money was stolen during a crime spree at Lake Macquarie.

The trio driving a stolen ute, pantech and flatbed truck forced their way through an external toilet door at a service station on Wyee Road at Wyee at about 3.30am on Tuesday, escaping with a safe containing a substantial sum of cash as well as a large amount of cigarettes.

They then tried to unsuccessfully take an ATM during a ram raid on a second service station on Main  Road at Fennell Bay about an hour later.

The vehicles involved were stolen from Cessnock, West Gosford and Scone.

Police say the vehicles are a silver Toyota utility with the rego CQ 21 JZ, a white Mitsubishi Pantec truck with the rego BT 73 PL and a white Mitsubishi Canter flatbed truck with the rego CE 78 NR.

Crime Spree Sparks call for Increased Police force in Wallsend area

By Isabel Everett


A State MP is calling for an increase in local police officers and in police resources following a recent crime wave sweeping through Wallsend and other neighboring suburbs.

Residents of Wallsend, Maryland, Fletcher and Elermore Vale have experienced multiple car break-ins, theft of valuables, a boat and garbage bins set on fire during the recent crime spree.

Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery says the limited number of officers in the area and on duty during night time hours means response times are often lengthy.

"When we have problems like what we've had again in Maryland, Fletcher and Elermore Vale over the last few days, and the limited number of police that are on patrol in the evening, it's impossible for them to get from one end of town to these areas in time to respond to the crime," Mrs Hornery said.

Concern has be raised that the limited number of police in the area is creating an ideal environment for criminals.

"Wallsend needs a dedicated police station. We also need more police in the area, particularly more police patrols in the evening. In this case crooks know that they can get away with it before the police are going to arrive to catch them," Mrs Hornery said.

"That is certainly not the fault of the police because they are doing the best job they can."


Source: NBN News

Teen Boys Face Multiple Charges Over Alleged Crime Spree Across Newcastle And Lake Macquarie

BY IAN CROUCH

Two teenage boys are due to front court over a two week crime spree across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

It's alleged the pair aged 19 and 14 broke into homes and cars and used stolen credit cards to make purchases.

Officers search homes in Douglas Street, Wallsend and Cobby Street, Shortland yesterday and seized two cars, clothing, car keys, cannabis and items suspected of being stolen during break-ins.

The 19-year-old has been charged with 24 offences and refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

The 14-year-old is due to front children's court on Monday charged with 9 offences.

UPDATE: Police Confirm Ram Raid And Break-In At Seperate Lake Macquraie Service Stations Are Linked

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been confirmed an overnight ram raid and break and enter at two Lake Macquarie service stations are linked.

At about 25 past 4 this morning, 5 men in a stolen Grey Colorado Dual Cab broke into the Shell Service Station on Oxford Street Gateshead and made off with cigarettes.

Less than 5 minutes later, the vehicle was used in a ram raid on the BP outlet in Dudley Road at Whitebridge before being driven away.

It's not clear what was taken during the ram raid, although police have confirmed the cash register was damaged.

EARLIER:
Lake Macquarie Police are investigating a ram raid on a service station at Whitebridge.

Police say a car was driven through the front doors of the BP outlet on Dudley Road just before 4.30 on Tuesday morning - it's believed the occupants escaped with several packets of cigarettes before driving off.

Minutes earlier, the Shell service station on Oxford Street Gateshead was broken into - it's not clear yet if anything was taken or whether the incidents are linked.

Man Arrested After Crime Spree Across Newcastle And Lake Macquarie

BY IAN CROUCH

A man has been arrested following a month-long crime spree across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

The 28-year-old is facing 45 charges relating to stolen cars, break and enters, frauds and traffic offences.

Police were called to reports of a break in at a newsagency on the Pacific Highway at Belmont North at about 4.30am on Thursday, with a Toyota Rav 4 seen leaving a short time later.

The man was arrested after a major search involving the police helicopter and dog squad.

Police sighted a vehicle matching the description in Buttaba Avenue.

As they approached the car it sped away and allegedly collided with a police vehicle and another parked car.

Police located the vehicle a short time later in nearby Golding Avenue, Belmont North. Police conducted a search and the man was eventually arrested following a short foot pursuit.

The 28-year-old man was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with 45 offences including dishonestly obtain property by deception, drive conveyance without consent of owner, police pursuit-not stop-drive dangerous, break, enter and steal, drug offences, resist police and other traffic offences.

He was refused bail and is expected to face Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 2 March 2018).

Investigations are continuing.