Hunter Valley Police on Hunt for Missing Birds

By Nicole Creen

Hunter Valley police are currently investigating reports birds have been stolen from a pet shop in Branxton.

Last week, thirteen birds went missing over two separate robberies on Wednesday, January 15 and Friday, January 17.

Five white Fantail pigeons, three superb parrots, four eclectus parrots and one king parrot are included in those missing.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact Singleton Police or Crime Stoppers.

Credit: Hunter Valley Police District

Credit: Hunter Valley Police District

Police Hunt For Stolen Vehicle And Motorbike At Morisset

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for information following the theft of a car and motorbike at Morisset early Tuesday.

Officers were called to a business on Wyee Road at about 3.30am.

On arrival, they were told an unknown man was seen getting out of a white Volkswagon before stealing a motorcycle and riding off.

The vehicle, which was also reported stolen, was also driven away from the location.

Anyone who can assist the investigation is urged to call Crime Stoppers.  

Pair Caught Trying To Steal Scooter At Merewether

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two men have been caught red-handed allegedly trying to steal a scooter at Merewether overnight.

Patrolling police noticed the pair hiding behind a parked car in Wilton Street at about 3.00am on Tuesday.

It's alleged they had been wheeling the Honda scooter which had been parked outside a nearby home after attempting to hot-wire it.

The pair, aged 18 and 21, were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station - they are expected to face court on Tuesday morning.

Police say the younger man was wanted on an outstanding warrant.

The scooter, which sustained minor damage, has been returned to its owner.

Two Charged Over Alleged Car Break-Ins at Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been charged following several alleged car break-ins at Wallsend. 

Just before 3:00am on Saturday (the 9th of September, 2023), Newcastle City Police were patrolling the Wallsend area when they were flagged down by members of the public who said two men had allegedly broken into several cars nearby.

A short time later, the officers stopped two men, aged 22 and 39, on Minmi Road at Wallsend and seized a number of items of interest, including tools, six mobile phones, keys, medication, syringes, a box of ammunition, ID documents, letters, and two knives.

Police believe the items had been taken during the car break-ins.

The two men were taken to Waratah Police Station and they were both charged with multiple theft, break and enter charges. 

They were refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Monday the 11th of September). 

Couple charged over Maitland puppy theft

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man and a woman have been charged after a puppy and guitars were allegedly stolen during a break and enter at Maitland this week.

About 2:30pm on Thursday, police attended a reserve on Sempill Street as part of an investigation into an alleged break and enter.

Police located a puppy locked in a tent, believed to have been stolen during a break and enter at a home also on Sempill Street.

A short time later, a 44-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man arrived at the reserve. 

The pair was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where they were charged over the break and enter.

They were both refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Friday.

The puppy was uninjured and has since returned home.

Man Charged After Vehicle Stop at Thornton

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A man will face Maitland court today, after a vehicle stop at Thornton unearthed allegedly stolen items and illegal drugs. 

Port Stephens Hunter Police were patrolling the Thornton area at about 3:00am on Wednesday, when they located a vehicle allegedly displaying altered registration plates on Thomas Coke Drive.

A search of the car revealed property suspected to have been stolen during a recent break and enter at Rutherford and a small bag containing methamphetamine.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene before being taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with multiple offences.  

Man Wanted Over Alleged Bonnells Bay Theft

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Lake Macquarie police have released CCTV footage and are appealing for information to identify a man who is believed to have stolen several items from a Bonnells Bay Shopping Centre on the 6th of June.

Shoppers allegedly attempted to stop the man from escaping the scene in an older model black Subaru.

Anyone with information which may help identify the man is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

UPDATE! Police Investigate Theft Of Motorbikes From Morisset

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A 50-year-old man is due to front court in July accused of a string of break and enters including the alleged theft of five motorcycles and riding equipment from a Morisset dealership valued at $50,000.

Officers arrested a 40-year-old man at a home in Berner Street Merewether on unrelated offences.

A search of the home recovered 3 motorbikes, riding equipment and clothing allegedly stolen from the Morisset business.

Inquiries led police to a Gateshead storage shed linked to a 50-year-old man from the Berner Street address where further items were seized along with a large number of allegedly stolen tools.

He was arrested near his Merewether home after foot pursuit and scuffle with police.

EARLIER:
 

Lake Macquarie Police are on the hunt for two men wanted over the theft of several motorbikes earlier this week at Morisset.

Police say between 1.30am and 6.00am on Monday, the pair forced their way into a motorcycle dealership on Alliance Avenue through a wall.

They took five Yamaha motorbikes and riding equipment including helmets, gloves, goggles and kitbags, before leaving in a grey ute believed to be driven by third person.

Police have released CCTV images of two people and a grey ute seen in the area and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. 

A CCTV image of one of the men allegedly involved in the heist

Police Investigate Theft Of Armani Watches From East Maitland Jewellery Store

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating the theft of several watches from a jewellery store at East Maitland.

It's alleged a person broke into the store on Mitchell Drive at about 6 o'clock on Saturday morning and took several Armani watches before fleeing on a push bike towards Stronach Avenue.

Police say the person was riding a BMX bike and wearing yellow/green gloves and had dark clothing covering their body and face.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police have released an image of the alleged suspect

Four Charged Over Alleged Hunter Valley Police Pursuit

BY OLIVIA DILLON

 

Four people will face court today after allegedly leading police on a pursuit through the Hunter yesterday.

At about 9:00am, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers detected a Toyota Hilux allegedly travelling at high speed on Broke Road at Pokolbin.

When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated through Wollombi, with road spikes successfully deployed at Paynes Crossing.

The vehicle stopped at a nearby property and the four occupants fled, before allegedly stealing a Nissan ute parked nearby and driving off.

Police deployed road spikes again a short time later, stopping the vehicle at Sweetmans Creek, where the occupants fled into bushland.

Following an extensive foot pursuit, a 37-year-old woman and three men were arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station. 

They've been charged with a combined 43 offences, including using a weapon to avoid apprehension.

More than 200 charges laid over Hunter's TikTok crime spree

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Police are confident they're getting a handle on a youth crime spree across the Hunter, where cars were stolen and the thefts posted to the social media platform TikTok.

244 charges have been laid and 22 offenders arrested as part of efforts by Strike Force Baste, and another 20 charges are expected to be laid.

One offender, who often removed windows from vehicles, faces a swathe of charges, including over fraud.

Port Stephens-Hunter District Commander Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey described their work as a "crowning achievement".

"The message out of that is we don't give up," he said. "We will come and arrest you for what you've done."

"Please lock your motor vehicles. Don't leave valuables in your motor vehicles. 

"Lock your homes, and when you go to sleep at night, don't leave your keys out in open areas in case someone does break in. Put them in a drawer. Make it a little bit harder on the crooks."

Thousands of Dollars Worth of Plants Stolen from Hunter Region Botanic Gardens

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Thousands of dollars worth of plants have been stolen from the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens.

Robert Beautement, CEO of the Botanic Gardens, says volunteers have been noticing missing plants since Sunday and the robbers could have had "more than one visit".

"Some time between Sunday and Wednesday this week, there's been the progressive disappearance of plants," Mr Beautement said. "The thefts have occurred in two of our most popular gardens - the succulent garden and the bromeliad garden."

"We estimate about 100 plants have gone missing. The volunteers work terribly hard in the gardens and this is a big loss to them - they put their heart and soul into the gardens, and they're very distressed about the whole matter."

A similar amount of plants were also stolen from the Gardens two years ago.

"There's a few theories - apparently there's a bit of a market in this sort of thing, the online purchasing of these plants," Mr Beautement said. 

"Not necessarily in the Hunter, but sometimes out of town as well. Apparently there is a market for things like succulents and bromeliads."

Police have been notified, and the Gardens are currently accepting donations in the form of replacement plants or money.

Image credit: www.huntergardens.org.au/gallery

Police Investigate Late Night Theft On Campus At Newcastle University

BY IAN  CROUCH

Police are searching for two young men involved in a robbery overnight at the Newcastle University's Callaghan campus.

A 20-year-old woman was walking along the Ring Road towards Warabrook Railway Station at about 10.50pm on Wednesday listening to music through headphones.

She didn't notice two males who approached her from either side.

Police say the pair, who had their faces covered with hooded jumpers, demanded her handbag.

She complied and the pair ran off towards the Bar on the Hill.

The young woman gave chase but the bandits managed to escape.

Female Employee charged with stealing almost $40,000 from Port Stephens business

By Isabel Everett

A 42 year-old-woman has been charged with stealing almost $40,000 from a Port Stephens business over a two-year period.

Police officers from the Port Stephens Police district began an investigation after the owner of the restaurant on Soldiers Point Road noticed discrepancies in the business' takings. 

Police arrested the woman at approximately 8:15 am on Tuesday in her Nelson Bay home, following their extensive inquires. 

The woman has been charged with 16 counts of steal property and was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday the 9th of December 2019.

Police Dog Puts The Bite On Alleged Thief At Fennell Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A police dog has tracked down a teenager accused of attempting to steal tools and equipment from a Lake Macquarie construction site.

Police say two people were spotted at the building site on Main Road at Fennell Bay at about 12.30am on Tuesday.

Officers arrived a short time later and the pair fled.

A police dog apprehended a 17-year-old male who police say refused a direction to stop.

He's being treated for bite wounds and is expected to be charged over the alleged break-in.

The second person managed to evade capture.

Man Charged Over Theft Of Vintage Motorbikes At Whitebridge Worth $60,000

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to re-appear in court in August over the alleged theft of vintage motorbikes valued at $60,000 in Lake Macquarie.

Police say several storage units on Bulls Garden Road at Whitebridge were broken into late last month and 7 heritage motorcycles were stolen.

Following an intensive investigation, a 28-year-old Charlestown man was arrested yesterday and appeared in Belmont Local Court.

He's been charged with 9 offences including break enter and steal, disqualified driving, having custody of a knife in a public place and drug possession and refused bail to face Belmont Local Court on Wednesday August 7 2019.

 

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

More than 20 Break and Entries in Hunter Valley Wine Country

BY ALEX MURRAY

Over the past month, the Hunter Valley Wine country has been the victim of mass break-ins with over 20 businesses affected including restaurants, retail stores and cellars.

The spike in incidents have left the community vulnerable and are seriously damaging to their business, the safety of their employees and for owners who are left with large costs in damages.

One woman has already been arrested but it is made clear to police from CCTV footage and comments from members of the community, these investigations are still ongoing.

Businesses including Sadler's Creek Wines, Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop and Buon Cibo Ristorante are among the targetted with break-ins and thefts causing major inconvenience.

Central Hunter crime manager, George Radmore says they're working hard to investigate a number of suspects but they're always looking for more information and urge the community to contact Crime Stoppers.

"It's concerning for any home or business who are victims of break-in style offences and certainly something the police and the community are working to be stopped."