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.

Teen Driver Faces Bedside Hearing Over Lake Macquarie Pursuit

BY IAN CROUCH

An 18-year-old man is expected to face a bedside court hearing in hospital today after a high speed pursuit at Lake Macquarie.

At about 1.30am on Saturday, Police were patrolling after a stolen car was found burnt out at Redhead when they noticed a gold Mazda being driven on Heaney Lane.

They tried to stop the car but it sped off down the Pacific Highway, allegedly reaching speeds of 140 kilometres per hour in a 100 zone.

The pursuit passed through Redhead, Belmont, Marks Point, Blacksmiths and Swansea.

The pursuit came to an end when the driver of the Mazda crashed into a centre dividing barrier, causing a front tyre to shear off the rim.

The driver and passenger, aged 18 and 22, were arrested at the scene.

Subsequent inquiries revealed the Mazda was allegedly stolen from Redhead earlier that night.

The driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital under police guard for a head injury suffered in the crash and for mandatory testing.

The passenger was later released without charge.

The 18-year-old is expected to be charged with a range of offenses including stealing two cars, police pursuit and unlicensed driving. Police say he's also wanted over a number of other crimes.

 

Man Arrested Over Spate Of Thefts Form Cars Around Lake Macquarie

BY IAN CROUCH

Police believe they're caught the culprit responsible for a string of thefts from cars around the Lake Macquarie area.

Over the past few weeks the have been reports of personal property being stolen from several cars at Valentine, Jewells, Gateshead and Belmont North.

It's alleged a stolen car was used during the incidents.

Following inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested outside a home in Mount Hutton just after 8.00am on Monday.

He was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with a host of offences including take and drive a vehicle without consent of owner, driving in a menacing manner, driving while disqualified, assault officer in execution of duty and 14 counts of obtaining property by deception.

He's been refused bail and is due to front Toronto Local Court today (Tuesday 13 February 2018).

Teen To Face Children's Court Over Gun Theft From Lake Macquarie Home

BY IAN CROUCH

A 17-year-old boy is due to front Children's Court today (Wednesday 7 February, 2018) over the alleged theft of firearms from a Lake Macquarie home.

Police say five shotguns were stolen during a break-in at a home at Hillsborough on December 27 last year.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested the following day and is still in custody.

Further inquiries led officers to a home at Windale yesterday where a 17-year-old boy was arrested and three firearms were recovered.

He's been charged with aggravated break and enter and has been refused bail ahead of his court appearance today.

Police Dog Tracks Down Wanted Man At Tomago

BY IAN CROUCH

A man wanted on outstanding warrants has been arrested following a pursuit at Edgeworth.

Officers noticed the man driving his blue Ford Falcon along Laurel Avenue just before 12.30 on Thursday morning and began following the car, but called off the pursuit a short time later when he crossed to the wrong side of the road.

The car was later dumped on Tomago Road at and a police dog found the man hiding in nearby bushland.

He's been taken to Toronto Police Station for questioning and is expected to be charged with several offences.

Man Under Police Guard In Hospital After Pursuit Across Lake Macquarie Suburbs

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is under police guard in Belmont Hospital after he fractured his back during a police pursuit across the western and eastern side of Lake Macquarie.

Just before 11.30 yesterday morning, officers spotted a Mitsubishi Triton Utility which had earlier been reported stolen from Speers Point at the intersection of Victory Parade and Cary Street, Toronto and began pursing the vehicle.

The chase continued along Five Islands Road to Anzac Parade where road spikes were deployed, but the driver allegedly crossed the median strip into oncoming traffic and the pursuit was called off.

The utility as later spotted on Macquarie Road at Warners Bay where it left the road and hit a tree.

The driver fled from the vehicle, and a short foot pursuit took place.

A-24-year-old man was arrested and taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory testing.

He remains in hospital under police guard after an x-ray revealed a fracture in his back.

Charges are expected.

Meanwhile, police called off a pursuit of a stolen Nissan Patrol at Glendale early Wednesday morning.

Officers noticed the vehicle on Lake Road at Edgeworth just after 3.00am and a pursuit was initiated.

However, the chase was terminated when the car crossed to the wrong side of the road a short time later.

The search for the vehicle continues.

Pedestrian Killed At Belmont

BY IAN CROUCH

A pedestrian has been killed after being struck by a car at Belmont.

The 79-year-old man was crossing the Pacific Highway near the intersection of Ada Street at about 8.45pm on Thursday when he was hit by a Toyota Hilux.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene but were unable to revive the man.

A 55-year-old man who was driving the Hilux was uninjured - he was taken to Belmont Hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

Man Charged over Indecent Act in Front of 14-year-old Girls

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Newcastle Local Court today charged over allegedly committing an indecent act in front of two teenage girls in Edgeworth.

Police say two 14-year-old girls were walking along Main Road Edgeworth at about 8:30pm on Monday night (January 1, 2018) when a man allegedly approached them before committing an indecent act.

The girls ran away and told a family member who reported the incident with police.

Following inquiries, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home in Edgeworth where they arrested a 48-year-old man and took him to Toronto Police Station.

He was charged with two counts of committing an aggravated act of indecency and refused bail.

Man on the Run Caught in Warners Bay

BY JESSICA ROUSE

After being on the run since earlier this year, police have finally tracked down a Warners Bay man who was allegedly involved in several police pursuits.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were tipped off to the whereabouts of the man by a stolen vehicle parked on Hillsborough Road yesterday.

After further inquiries, and with the assistance of the police dog, officers forced entry into a nearby motel room.

They found three people in the room including the 32-year-old man they were after and two other women.

Officers executed a search warrant and will allege they seized quantities of illegal drugs and more than $1,000 in cash.

The 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with break, enter & steal, predatory driving (x 2), drive conveyance without consent of owner (x 2), police pursuit (x 2), goods in custody (x 2), possess prohibited drug, possess equipment to administer prohibited drug and possess housebreaking implements.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

The two women were also arrested without incident - A 25-year-old was issued a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug and will appear in court next year. The other woman, a 35-year-old, was charged with be carried in conveyance and possess prohibited drug.

She was granted bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on January 10, 2018.

Lake Macquarie Man Accused Of Breaching AVO While Driving With Alleged Victim

BY IAN CROUCH

A Cooranbong man is due to face Toronto Local Court on a raft of charges after he was caught allegedly driving an unregistered and uninsured car while under the influence of drugs.

Police claim the disqualified driver had stolen property in his car when they stopped him on Mandalong Road at Morisset on Thursday night - and there are two warrants out for his arrest.

To make matters worse, they say he was also breaching an AVO because the person in need of protection was in the car with him.

Police Investigate Suspicious Fire At Blackalls Park

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which destroyed a home at Blackalls Park as suspicious.

Firefighters were called to home on Lake Street just before 2.30pm on Thursday to find the property well alight.

No-one was home at the time.

Initial investigations suggest the fire was deliberately lit and Lake Macquarie police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

UPDATE Cardiff Creep Has Matter Adjourned and Bail Granted

UPDATE

The man dubbed the Cardiff Creep has faced Toronto Local Court today.

46-year-old Glen Dabid Chester had his matter adjourned until February 6, and was granted bail with one of the conditions being to pay $5,000.

He was charged with eight counts of commit act of indecency towards another person, and one count of wilful and obscene exposure towards six school girls in the Cardiff area.

BY IAN CROUCH

Police believe they've caught the man dubbed the Cardiff Creep.

Six school girls aged between 13 and 16 were approached by a man between August and November this year near the stormwater drain in Fifth Street, Cardiff and also at Impala Street, Edgeworth, where it's alleged he exposed himself to them.

Following extensive inquiries, a 46-year-old man was arrested at Cardiff on Thursday.

He's been charged with eight counts of commit act of indecency towards another person, and one count of wilful and obscene exposure.

The man, from Thornton, was refused bail and will appear in Toronto Local Court today (Friday 8 December 2017).