Two Men Charged Over Stolen Tools And Drug Offences

BY PETER HYSLOP

Two men have been charged, one with allegedly stealing power tools, the other with drug offences and breach of bail at Wallsend.

In late January, a ute containing a large amount of power tools was stolen from a home at Hamilton North.

The vehicle was located in Wallsend with tools removed from the car. A house was then identified by police as a premises of interest on Lewis Street.

On Friday (7 February) officers stopped a different vehicle which left the home, they then allegedly seized several stolen tools, a gel blaster, and 50 grams of methamphetamine.

A 36-year-old man has faced Newcastle Local Court at the weekend over drug charges and breach of bail, a 35-year-old man has also been arrested and charged with stolen goods. He'll face court in March.

Man Punched and Robbed in Kotara Park and Teenager Threatened with Knife

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police are appealing for public assistance following two robberies in Newcastle at the weekend.

About 2.15pm on Saturday, a 23-year-old man was seated in a park on Lexington Parade, Kotara, when he was approached by three unknown men.

The group demanded the man’s phone, wallet and backpack before he was punched in the face.

The group then left the scene before one of the men approached a 15-year-old boy on Park Avenue and threatened him with a knife.

He demanded his phone before fleeing with the remainder of the group.

Both incidents were reported to police a short time later and officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation.

As police continue their inquiries, officers are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the Kotara area between 2pm and 2.45pm or who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Fourth Man Arrested As Part of Investigations into Jesmond Shooting

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A fourth man has been charged as investigations continue into an alleged break and enter and shooting at Jesmond in January. 

About 8.10pm on January 14, two 19-year-old men attended an apartment on Newcastle Road where they spoke with a 36-year-old man.

Police allege the pair forced entry to the home and threatened the man with a fire extinguisher, before discharging a firearm towards him a short time later.

Detectives from Newcastle City Police District established Strike Force Waradgery to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Shortland on Wednesday and arrested a 32-year-old man.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with shoot at with intent to murder and aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday. 

Three other men have been arrested in relation to the incident matter. They remain before the courts.

Image: Newcastle City District Police 

"Erratic" Hunter Street Driver to Face Court Over Alleged High Range Drink Driving

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A woman has been charged with high range drink driving, after her car was spotted driving "erratically" on Hunter Street in Newcastle. 

On Friday, members of the public contacted police about a white Toyota Yaris, who located the vehicle a short time later on Union Street. 

The vehicle was stopped and the 43-year-old driver submitted to a breath test which returned a reading of 0.283 (High Range PCA). 

The drivers licence was suspended on the spot, she is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court in early December.

Search Suspended For Reported Surfer in Distress at Newcastle Beach, Nothing Adverse Located

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

Newcastle City police have suspended a search for a surfer reported to have been in difficulties off Newcastle Beach on Wednesday. 

About 6.20pm on Wednesday, emergency services responded to reports a surfer appeared to be struggling in the water at Newcastle Beach.

The female witness told police that she saw what she believed was a surfer having some difficulties during choppy surf conditions about 100m offshore.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District conducted a search of the beach and water, with the assistance of a rescue helicopter, Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance.

The search continued on Thursday – with the assistance of the Marine Area Command and NSW Surf Lifesaving – with nothing adverse located.

As no missing persons have been reported in the area, the search has been suspended.

Police would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance.

                                                                           Visit NSW

Police Release CCTV of Merewether Assault and Car Theft

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police have released CCTV images and are appealing for public assistance, after a man was assaulted and his car stolen in Merewether over the weekend. 

About 3pm on Saturday, a 45-year-old man parked a blue BMW M2 coupe on Lloyd Street, Merewether, and sat down on a nearby bench.

A short time later, three unknown men arrived in a Toyota Kluger 4WD – believed to have been stolen from an Islington address on Friday – when they approached the man and punched him before taking his keys, wallet and phone.

All three men drove away in the BMW and were last seen heading west towards Scenic Drive.

Police have released CCTV images of three men they wish to speak to who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

They are all described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance and aged in their mid-20s.

One man is also described as being of a solid build, with mohawk-style hair and a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie.

A second man is described as being of slim build, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans.

Police are also appealing for anyone who may have seen a blue BMW M2 coupe with NSW registration DSS 71W, or with information about the incident to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

75-year-old Man Killed and 4 others Injured in Tomago Crash

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 75-year-old man has died following a crash in Tomago on Sunday afternoon.

Around 12.40pm emergency services were called to Tomago Road after reports a Mitsubishi ASX had crashed into a tree after colliding with an Izuzu D-Max.

The Mitsubishi driver, a 75-year-old man, died at the scene.

The Izuzu driver, a 32-year-old man, sustained serious internal injuries and was airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The passengers, two women aged 66 and 26 and a 2-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries.

All were transferred to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command established a crime scene, with the Crash Investigation Unit to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision who were in the area at the time are urged to come forward.

Appeal to Locate Teen Missing from Newcastle

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Newcastle family is appealing for help to find their teenager daughter missing since Wednesday, September 11.

15-year-old Trinity Thompson was last seen at her family's Cooks Hill home.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, of a slim build, around 150cm tall with braces, a nose piercing, and long hair which is dark at the roots and light on the ends.

Appealing for help on social media, Trinity's father says it's unlike his daughter to disappear like this.

The teen is known to have a large network of friends in the Kotara, Hamilton South, Adamstown and New Lambton areas.

Anyone who sees Trinity is urged to contact Newcastle Police.

Trinity Thompson

BREAKING! Newborn's Body Discovered at Stockton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police are appealing for the public's assistance following a tragic discovery at Stockton this morning.

Emergency services were called to a home on Church Street around 7 o'clock, where the body of a newborn baby had been found abandoned in the backyard.

Police hold grave concerns for the child's mother, who may need to seek urgent medical treatment.

A police operation is still underway at the home and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the baby's age and cause of death.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with information about the baby or the mother is urged to contact Newcastle detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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

Child Approached at North Lambton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Witnesses are being sought as police investigate reports a child was approached by a stranger in North Lambton over the weekend.

Police say a child was approached by a man in a vehicle on Acacia Avenue around 1:30pm on Saturday, April 6th.

Officers are seeking a man driving a late-model black sedan with a large silver or yellow ‘racing stripe’ they believe may have been in the area at the time of the incident.

They've released a description of man they believe to be involved, he's described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early 20s, with shoulder-length curly black hair, medium build, and clean shaven.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Tyre Slasher On The Loose In Tighes Hill

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating after more than a dozen vehicles had their tyres slashed at Tighes Hill.

Residents of Ferndale Street woke on Thursday morning to find their vehicles had been damaged overnight with some cars also broken into.

The incident has stirred memories of a serial tyre slasher who punctured more than 130 tyres around Tighes Hill and Mayfield between May and August  in 2016.

A 44-year-old woman was arrested after police circulated a CCTV image of the offender.