Man To Face Court Over Alleged Thefts From Newcastle Apartment Block

BY IAN CROUCH

A Noraville man is due to face court today accused of breaking into a unit block in Newcastle and stealing property.

It's alleged the 34-year-old forced open a letter box at the Worth Place apartments in the early hours of Monday morning and stole keys and an access fob before gaining access to the basement and breaking into several storage cages and making off with two mountain bikes, jewellery and tools.

He was arrested yesterday while walking in Morgan Street Islington, with a search of his backpack allegedly uncovering keys, an access fob and housebreaking implements.

Police say they searched a nearby home and found two mountain bikes, one of which was stolen from Worth Place

The man, who is on parole, was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with four offences including break enter and steal, possess housebreaking implements, goods in custody and possess graffiti implement.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 11 July, 2019).

Police are investigating a number of break and enters in the area and are reminding residents to be vigilant and not to leave spare keys in letterboxes.

Worth Place Reopens Today

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Motorists in Newcastle will now be able to use Worth Place again this morning, after months of light rail construction.

The closure of the intersection has meant limited access to Honeysuckle Drive since January.

The reopening marks the completion of one of the most complex sections of the light rail construction, according to Revitalising Newcastle Program Director, Michael Cassel.

"Construction at Worth Place was always going to be a challenge, with a number of services of varying types, sizes, ages and conditions crisscrossing just beneath the ground next to trees and their root systems," he said.

However, construction along Hunter Street is not fully completed, with the section between Auckland and Merewether Street set to close today.

"This provides us with the opportunity to get in and complete much of the finishing work in the Civic precinct, which includes building track, Civic stop and footpath works," said Cassel.

"As a result, Worth Place will be the best way to get between Honeysuckle and the city centre while we undertake work."

The closure is expected to last six to eight weeks.