Man Charged over Alleged Knifepoint Robbery

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man is due to face court today over his alleged role in a West Wallsend armed robbery.

Police say the 28-year-old was armed with a knife when he entered a store on Carrington Street just before 11 o'clock Wednesday morning.

He is accused of threatening a female employee at the store and demanding cash before fleeing the scene in a Toyota Camry with alleged stolen number plates.

While Lake Macquarie police officers responded to the incident, the man's alleged getaway vehicle was noticed travelling at speed by Highway Patrol officers.

Officers pulled the car over and spoke with the driver before searching the vehicle, in which they allegedly located clothing and cash.

The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where officers charged him with robbery whilst armed, goods in custody and two counts of fraud.

Man Sought Following Armed Robbery at Waratah Hotel

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Police are appealing for assistance following an armed robbery at a Waratah hotel this morning.

Officers were called to the Royal Inn on Station Street around 9:30am, following reports a man entered the premises and threatened patrons with a firearm before fleeing the scene with a sum of cash.

No-one was injured during the incident and police now want to hear from witnesses who may have seen a man in the area acting suspiciously between 9 and 10am.

He is described as being approximately 180cm tall, with a solid build and dressed in dark clothing.

His face was covered by a dark balaclava.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle Detectives on 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers.

Police on the Hunt for man who Robbed East Maitland Bank armed with a Firearm

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Investigations are continuing into an armed robbery at the East Maitland branch of the Maitland Mutual bank.

Police say just after 9:30 yesterday morning a man with his face concealed allegedly entered the building on George Street with a firearm threatening staff and demanding money.

He fled with a sum of cash.

The man was seen leaving the area in a white Holden Commodore with distinctive mag wheels driven by another man. The car had no registration plate.

No one was injured during the hold-up.

Police attended establishing a crime scene and also conducted a canvass of the area.

The armed man is described as being approximately 173cm tall and with a thin to medium build. Police haven't given a description of the driver.

Anyone with any information or saw anything is being urged to come forward.

Worker Threatened During Armed Robbery At Mount Hutton Service Station

BY IAN CROUCH

A worker has been threatened with a knife during an armed robbery on a service station at Mount Hutton.

A man entered the Caltex outlet on Wilsons Road just before 9.00pm on Tuesday and demanded money at knife point.

The service station attendant handed over cash from the till and the man fled on foot.

He is described as being about 180-185cm tall, with olive skin and of a thin build. He was last seen wearing a blue beanie with white writing, a white bandana across his face, black leather jacket and dark pants.

Inquiries are continuing and anyone with information is urged to contact police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police Release CCTV Image of Wanted Man

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still on the hunt for a man who held up a fast food restaurant in Mayfield this week.

A man allegedly entered the KFC on Maitland Road at about 11:40pm on Tuesday (7th November 2017) night threatening staff with a knife and demanding cash.

He got away with a quantity of cash from the till and fled along Corona Street.

Staff contacted police who established a crime scene - no one was injured.

The person depicted is described as being of Caucasian appearance, large build and short, light brown hair. In the CCTV image, he's seen wearing a black long sleeve jumper, grey tracksuit pants, no shoes and a red shirt/bandana around his neck and face.

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

Image NSW Police

Mayfield Take Away Held Up At Knife Point

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have released a description of man wanted over a brazen armed robbery at Mayfield.

The man entered the KFC fast food restaurant on Maitand Road when the business was closing at 11.47 on Tuesday night and threatened staff with a knife while demanding cash.

Acting Inspector Anita Cruz says the man fled with a small amount of money.

"He was Caucasian with a large build and light brown short hair and was wearing a black long sleeve jumper, grey tracksuit pants and a red bandana around his face," she said.

Employee Threatened During Merewether Armed Robbery

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for two men over an armed robbery on a Merewether service station last night.

The pair entered the service station on Watkins Street just after 9.30 - one of them was armed with a metal pole.

They threatened the 25-year-old service station attendant, demanding cash and cigarettes.

Police says the employee complied and the pair ran off towards The Junction.

One of the men has been described as Caucasian in appearance and aged in his mid twenties with a medium build and about 185cm tall.

He was wearing dark long pants with a dark jacket, a black beanie and had a red cloth covering his face and was armed with a metal bar.

The second man has been described as Caucasian in appearance and aged in his mid twenties with a medium build and about 175cm tall.

He was wearing grey long pants with a black hooded jumper and he had a black and grey cloth covering his face.

The employee was not injured during the incident and police are appealing for information as they search for the culprits.

Home invasion in Weston overnight

BY JARROD MELMETH

Police are on the hunt for three men following a home invasion, where a shotgun was fired overnight at Weston. 

The men with their faces covered and reportedly armed with a machete and a shotgun forced open the front door of a home on Fourth Street, at around 10:30pm on Monday night.

The men confronted a 69-year-old male resident inside the home and demanded money before assaulting him. A 52-year-old woman in the home was also assaulted during the incident.

After leaving the premises with a small amount of cash, the men discharged the shotgun into the front door, narrowly missing the female resident.

The three men were last seen leaving the scene in a small silver or dark-coloured hatchback.
The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for a bruised eye and a swollen jaw and nose, while the woman received cuts and bruises to her face.

Both did not require hospitalisation and are seeking further medical treatment today.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command established a crime scene and have commenced investigations into the incident which is believed to be targeted.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland Police or Crime Stoppers.

Armed Robbery At Elermore Vale Service Station

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating an armed robbery at an Elermore Vale service station overnight.

A man driving a Silver coloured Nissan X-Trail drove into the Caltax outlet on Cardiff Road at about 8.00pm and parked next to the front door.

The man, who was dressed in black and wearing a balaclava, entered the store and walked behind the counter, threatening the attendant with a small knife.

He was handed a small amount of cash and took several packets of cigarettes before leaving in the car.

The service station attendant wasn't injured in the incident.

A Silver Nissan X-Trail Was Used As The Getaway Car

Man charged after Armed Robbery

BY TYLER FARDELL

A 30 year-old man has been charged with attempted robbery while armed after an incident in the Hunter on Wednesday night.

It's alleged the man went into a service station at Greta where he then threatened the staff with a knife and demanded cash.

The man then fled empty-handed after an altercation with a male staff member.

Following inquiries, yesterday afternoon, the man attended Maitland Police Station and was arrested.

He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Singleton Local Court on Thursday the 17th of August.

Attempted armed robbery at Greta

BY JESSICA ROUSE

While a man heads to Singleton Local Court today for an alleged armed robbery in Muswellbrook, police are investigating another alleged armed robbery in Greta.

At about 8:30pm last night an unknown man entered a service station on High Street where, armed with a knife, he approached two employees and demanded money.

One of the employees approached the man and there was an altercation.

No one was injured and the man fled empty handed in a Holden utility.

A short time later the car was found abandoned on Water Street, Greta. Police searched the car finding a knife which is allegedly the same knife used during the incident. The knife and the car was seized and is undergoing forensic investigation.

Hunter Valley officers are calling for anyone with any information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Worker threatened by a man wielding a knife in Muswellbrook

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 34-year-old man will face Singleton Local Court today after alleged armed robbery and domestic violence charges at Muswellbrook.

Police have been told at about 2:45pm yesterday a man working at a motel on Maitland Road was threatened by the 34-year-old armed with a knife and demanded cash.

The man left on foot and a short time later was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident in Ruthwhite Avenue.

Hunter Valley officers attended and had to use a taser to subdue the man during the arrest.

He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, common assault (DV), two counts of breaching an AVO, and two counts of destroying or damaging property (DV).

He was refused bail.

Police re-appeal for information on Cessnock Robbery in April

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Police are re-appealing for information about an armed robbery in Cessnock two months ago.

Just after 2:30 pm on April 1, a 27-year-old man was working at a newsagency on Wollombi Road when another man entered the store, armed with a knife.

He demanded cash before leaving the store.

Senior Constable, Vanessa Bolas says police have released CCTV images of a man they believe can assist their investigation.

"The man is described as wearing a balaclava, a hooded light grey jacket with a dark stripe down the arms, black gloves, dark coloured long pants and dark shoes with white socks."

Police have also released images of a vehicle they believe is connected to the robbery.

"The vehicle is described as a silver Mitsubishi Mirage with yellow and black number plates, standard hub caps and damage to the left rear wheel arch," said Vanessa Bolas.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Cessnock Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Investigations continue into armed robbery in Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have released CCTV footage of a holdup at the Swansea Workers Club in an effort to find the two men responsible.

Two men with their faces covered threatened staff with a shortened shotgun at the Rawson Street business on January 8, and fled with an amount of cash.

A vehicle was recovered burnt in bushland in the Nords Wharf area, which police believe was used by the men to make their getaway.

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

More arrests over Williamtown fast food restaurant robbery

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Strike Force Shirley has successfully arrested two men over an armed robbery of a fast food restaurant earlier this year.

The strike force was established by detectives from the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad with Port Stephens and Central Hunter police, to investigate a series of armed robberies in the area.

Just after 1:30 on Saturday afternoon, officers attended a home in Raymond Terrace on Cook Street where they found a 21-year-old man hiding under a bed.

Further inquiries then lead Lake Macquarie officers to Heatherbrae, where they found a 32 year old man at a motel on the Pacific Highway.

Both men were arrested, with the 21 year old charged with robbery whilst armed with dangerous weapon, and possess prohibited drug and the 32-year-old charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon.

Both men were refused bail at Newcastle Local Court yesterday, and will reappear today.

These aren't the first arrests made in relation to the armed robbery - two men aged 18 and 30 have previously been charged by strike force detectives.

Armed Robbery at Williamtown McDonald's

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

Williamtown McDonald's has been targeted in an armed robbery.

Three man entered the restaurant on Nelson Bay Road at around 10:50pm Wednesday, where they demanded money from a staff member.

The men were wielding weapons including a machete, a shot gun and a baseball bat.

The offenders fled the scene with cash and other items leaving one staff member with minor injuries.

Officers from Port Stephens Local Area Command attended the restaurant and established a crime scene.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police Investigating Maryville Armed Robbery

BY GEORGIA LUPTON

A Maryville service station has been the target of an armed robbery overnight.

Three juveniles, described as being in their mid to late teens, reportedly entered the service station on Hannell Street.

They approached the counter where one of the teenagers threatened the employee with a knife and demanded money.

Meanwhile, the two other juveniles stole items from the store.

The three then left the store with cash and merchandise and were last seen heading in a southerly direction on foot.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended the scene and are now conducting investigations and inquiries.

One of the offenders was last seen wearing a dark coloured hooded jumper, while the other two were last seen wearing lighter hooded jumpers.

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