Men Charged at Port Stephens for Possession of Stolen Firearms

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged two men at Port Stephens for allegedly possessing four stolen firearms.

Last month officers attended an address on Salamander Way in Salamander Bay where they had reportedly been stolen.

Police commenced inquiries, and attempted to stop a black Toyota Hilux on Hillsborough believed to be linked.

A pursuit was initiated- it was found abandoned at a school nearby.

During a search of the surrounding area, police found three of the four firearms, the matter was then referred to Strike Force Blaine.

Following further inquiries, in the early hours of Monday morning (3 March), two 23-year-old men were arrested on a boat at Shoal Bay. They were taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, charged with break and enter and the pursuit.

They've appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court.

 

 

Firearms seized by police as part of the operation. Credit: NSW Police

 

Drugs, Firearms, Ammunition and Stolen Jet Ski Seized at Swansea Home

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Police have seized several prohibited weapons and precursors for explosives during a search of a Lake Macquarie home.

About 12.30pm on Tuesday Lake Macquarie Police were assisting Sheriff’s Officers with an eviction order at a Swansea property, where they spoke with three people – two women and a man.

All three people left the premises. 

During an initial search of the home, sheriff officers allegedly located a firearm near the front door of the premises.

Police declared a crime scene and subsequently executed a search warrant. 

During the search, officers located and seized, more than a dozen firearms, ammunition, knuckle dusters, a sling shot a crossbow, a jet ski, a trailer believed to have been stolen, cash, prohibited drugs and powders believed to be precursors for the manufacture of explosives.

All items were taken to Belmont Police Station for forensic analysis, while the jet ski and trailer were returned to the owner.

An investigation has been launched into the origins of the items located within the home.

Anyone who may have information which could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Images: Lake Macquarie Police 

Man Charged Over Alleged Sexual Assault of 9-Year-Old Girl in Newcastle

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will appear in court on Wednesday charged over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in Newcastle two years ago.

In June 2020, detectives commenced an investigation following reports a young girl had been sexually abused by a man known to her.

Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 41-year-old man at Campbelltown Police Station just after 5pm on Tuesday.

He was charged with one count of sexual intercourse with a child under age of 10.

Police allege the man sexually assaulted the girl – then aged nine – while staying in the Newcastle area in 2018.

The man was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday.

Man Charged Over Vandalism Of Several Train Stations Across Hunter and Sydney

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man is due to face court on Wednesday, charged over several acts of vandalism at train stations across the Hunter, Sydney, and Central Coast transport networks.

Following inquiries, officers from the Police Transport Command executed a search warrant at a home in Blue Haven, Central Coast about 10am on Tuesday.

During the search, investigators located sketch pads, spray paint, a mobile phone, three cannabis plants in a hydroponic setup and 16g of dried cannabis. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.

A short time later, a 19-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Wyong Police Station.

He was charged with 21 offences, including:

• seven counts of malicious damage,
• cultivate prohibited plant,
• possess prohibited drug,
• five counts of face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence, and
• seven counts of enter/remain on running lines.

Police will allege in court that the man vandalised trains and infrastructure at railway stations in Kingsgrove, Maitland, Campbelltown, Hamilton, Lidcombe, Telarah and Gosford.

It will also be alleged the man then uploaded these acts of vandalism to social media.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Wyong Local Court on Wednesday. 

A 35-year-old Newtown man was also charged earlier in July following reports railway infrastructure and trains had been vandalised with graffiti across  Sydney and the Central Coast transport network.

He remains before the courts.

Investigations are continuing.

Over 9 Thousand Fines Issued to Hunter Drivers, Caught Using Mobile Phones Since March

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Since the start of March 2020 over 9 thousand fines have been issue to drivers caught using their mobile phones in the Hunter. 

Transport NSW data reveals since March 1st, mobile phone detection cameras have checked 4,570,131 vehicles in the region.

This resulted in 9,487 penalty notices being issued.

Around one in every 482 drivers checked in the Hunter region from March 1st to June 30th, were issued a penalty notice, an offence rate of 0.21 per cent.

Drivers captured on camera doing the wrong thing receive a $344 fine, or a $457 fine in a school zone, and five demerit points, or 10 during double demerit periods.

Transport for NSW Deputy Secretatr, Tara McCarthy says they are committed to halting the trend. 

"Lives are being lost on NSW roads because of drivers illegally using their mobile phones," she said. 

"Simply taking your eyes off the road for longer than two seconds, doubles the risk of a crash."

"Research has found handheld mobile phone use while driving is associated with at least a four-fold increase in the risk of having a crash in which at least one person is killed or injured, and texting increases the crash risk even further."

Australian Federal Police Arrest Owner of Mayfield Burger Shop On People Smuggling Charges

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A Birmingham Gardens man is one of two men arrested by the Australian Federal Police over their alleged involvement in people smuggling ventures. 

Officers executed a search warrant of the Birmingham Gardens home on Tuesday, arresting 30-year-old Chinese National, Mu Fang, the owner of Mayfield's 'Mega Burgers'.

Image Credit: Australia247

It's alleged he, and a 31-year-old Queensland man arrested in Mareeba on Tuesday, were part of an international people smuggling network, where immigrants were forced to undertake a years worth of work without pay, forced into debt bondage to repay the criminal syndicate's costs for their journey. 

Investigations began in early 2020, when the AFP received information about an alleged people smuggling network attempting to transit illegal arrivals to Australia. 

In January 2020, Fang and the 31-year-old Queensland man were reportedly travelling in a vehicle in a remote area of the Northern Territory when their vehicle became stranded at a water crossing and Northern Territory Police were called. 

It's alleged they claimed they were in the area on a camping trip, however officers observed they were only carrying a carton of water and a small bag, leading Australian Federal police to believe they were acting as a "shore party" to meet a potential vessel carrying illegal arrivals. 

Officers executed a search warrant of Fang's home where they allegedly uncovered visa applications on a computer hard drive. 

Fang appeared before Newcastle court on Tuesday, and was refused bail and remanded in custody to reappear in court in September. 

AFP People Smuggling Arrest

BREAKING! Police Seize $12,000 in Cash Allegedly Found in Freezer in Belmont South Home

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A man will appear in court today after  investigators seized more than $12,000 in cash and two firearms from a Belmont South home on Thursday morning. 

A 38-year-old man was charged after Police from Strike Force Raptor North executed a search warrant of the home just after 2am on Thursday the 5th of March.

During the search, officers seized two pistols, ammunition, electronic equipment and prohibited drugs believed to methylamphetamine.

Police also located $12,380 cash allegedly hidden inside a freezer.

The man allegedly fled from the home before being detained by officers, with assistance from the Dog Unit, a short distance away.

The man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, before the woman was released pending further inquiries.

The man was charged with two counts of  possessing an unregistered firearm, two counts of possessing ammunition without a holding licence or permit, possessing a  prohibited drug and dealing with property proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Images Courtesy of NSW Police Force

BREAKING! Mayfield Couple Arrested Over Credit Card Fraud Ofences

BY IAN CROUCH

A short stand-off has ended with the arrest of two people at Mayfield overnight.

Police investigating the alleged theft of credit cards from motor vehicles over the past couple of days went to a Hanbury Street address at about 11.00pm on Wednesday.

Police say the stolen cards were used to make fraudulent Paywave purchases from service stations.

Two residents initially refused police demands to come out but surrendered to officers a short time later.

A couple in their 30's have been charged with obtaining a benefit by deception.

The male has been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday March 5) while the woman has been granted conditional bail to face court on March 26.

UPDATE: Search for Woman Missing from Singleton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police say Carissa Starr has been located safe and well.

The 30-year-old attended Port Macquarie Police Station around 10 o'clock Wednesday night, having been reported missing on Tuesday evening.

EARLIER:

Police are appealing for help to locate a woman missing from Singleton.

Carissa Starr was last seen leaving a home between 2:30 and 4:30 on Tuesday afternoon and was reported missing later that night.

The 30-year-old is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 165-170cm tall, with an average build, black hair and brown eyes.

Carissa may be travelling in a white Mazda 3 with NSW registration plates ECW 10Z and has connections in Singleton, Tamworth and Gosford.

There are concerns for Carissa's welfare and anyone who sees her or knows of her whereabouts is urged to make contact with police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Carissa Starr. Image: NSW Police Force

Image: NSW Police Force

UPDATE: Missing Woman Located Safe and Well

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A woman reported missing in the Lake Macquarie area has been found safe and well.

Following police inquiries, Skye Conway was located at Cooranbong around 9:30 on Friday morning.

The 37-year-old was reported missing on Thursday after leaving a Cooranbong home on Wednesday night.


EARLIER:

Police are seeking the public's help to find a woman missing from Lake Macquarie.

37-year-old Skye Conway left a home at Cooranbong around 11:30 on Wednesday night and hasn't been seen since.

Her family hold concerns for her welfare due to medical reasons.

Skye is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, with a thin build, blonde hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black singlet, grey track pants and polka dot socks.

Skye is also known to have connections in Sydney's south, in the Cronulla area.

Anyone who has seen Skye or knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact police.

Pair Extradited to Hunter Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man and woman have been extradited from Queensland over the alleged historical sexual abuse of a child in the Hunter.

In November 2016, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives began investigating reports a young girl had been sexually abused by a man and woman known to her.

After almost three years of investigations, the 59-year-old man and 36-year-old woman were arrested at North Lakes, near Brisbane, on Thursday before being escorted to New South Wales where they briefly faced Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday.

The pair is accused of sexually abusing a young girl, aged between 9 and 10 at the time, on several occasions.

It's also alleged the man abused the girl again fourteen months later in January 2016.

The pair are due to face court again on Tuesday.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page.

Missing Newcastle Girl Located Safe and Well

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A young girl missing from Newcastle has been located safe and well.

11-year-old Carly Gibson failed to return home on Saturday night, and police were concerned for her safety.

NSW Police sought public assistance via social media yesterday afternoon and Carly was located in Edgeworth around 8:30pm last night.

Police thank the public for their assistance.

New Police Recruits Lacking in the Hunter

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

The NSW Police Force has welcomed 257 new probationary constables to its ranks today, but there are local concerns the Hunter won't be receiving the number of officers it deserves.

'Class 335' will start work at their new stations on Monday, with 83% to be stationed in Sydney and the other 17% to be distributed across the state.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery was disappointed to learn only 3 of the 257 recruits have been assigned to the Hunter and has called on Police Minister Troy Grant to review how new recruits are allocated.

Port Stephens-Hunter, Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie Polic Districts will each receive one new recruit, totalling just 1% of the latest cohort.

"I have brought the issue of police resources, or lack thereof in the Hunter, up many times in Parliament in the last four years," said Ms Hornery.

"And I was laughed down by the government who told me that we are in fact, for some unbelievable reason, according to them, over-resourced in the Hunter."

NSW Police graduates. Image: NSW Police Force Academy

Thieves Target Lake Macquarie Service Station For Second Time This Week

BY IAN CROUCH

A Lake Macquarie service station has been the target of a break-in for the second night in a row.

Thieves forced their way into the Shell outlet on Oxford Street just before 2.30am on Wednesday and stole a large amount of cigarettes.

No staff were there at the time.

Cigarettes were also taken from the service station on Tuesday night during another after-hours break-in.

The service station was the target of a similar break-in last month.

Speeding P-Plater Allegedly Caught Travelling At 209km/h At Raymond Terrace

BY IAN  CROUCH

An 18-year-old man has a date in court in April after he was allegedly caught driving at more than 200 kilometres per hour at Raymond Terrace.

Officers were conducting speed checks on the Pacific Highway on Friday when they noticed a utility travelling south at high speed.

They say they clocked the car being driven at 209 kilometres per hour in a 110 zone.

The driver – an 18-year-old man – was stopped a short time later and arrested.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with

• Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
• P2 driver exceed speed by more than 45km/h
• Not display P plates.

The man, from Raymond Terrace, was also alleged to have breached his bail conditions and was refused bail.

He appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court yesterday, where he was granted conditional bail to re-appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Wednesday 18 April 2018.

His licence was suspended on the spot.