Baby Girl Abducted From Bellbird Found Safe And Well

BY IAN CROUCH

A four-month-old girl who was abducted from her home at Bellbird near Cessnock has been found safe and well at Armidale.

Police issued an Amber Alert after two women and a man allegedly entered a home on Ruby Street at about 4.00pm yesterday and took the girl, taking off in a Mitsubishi Challenger.

It's understood the group is known to the little girl and her family.

Inspector Peter Vromans says a routine patrol spotted the car on the New England Highway near Armidale Airport just before 10.00pm.

"..and the two females and a male were taken into custody without incident and the young 4-and-a-half month old child was recovered and located safe and well," he said

Central Hunter detectives have travelled to Armidale to question the trio who are expected to be charged.

The little girl is now being cared for by Family And Community Services.

The Car Involved In The Alleged Abduction Picture:smh

Police appeal for help to find Cessnock Pokies Bandit

BY JARROD MELMETH

Detectives believe a string of break-ins and armed hold-ups across the Central Hunter between October 13th and 26th last month are linked.

The first incident occurred between midnight and 3am on Thursday, October 13, when a club in Cessnock was broken into and money was taken from a number of gaming machines.

The same club was targeted between 11pm and midnight on Sunday, October 16, with money taken from gaming machines.

About 6:40am on Wednesday, October 19, a man entered a Metro service station on Wollombi Road armed with a home-made fake firearm and threatened the attendant. The man left the store without taking any items and was seen entering a waiting vehicle which was driven towards Cessnock.

The man struck again, about 2:20am Saturday, October 22 and again just after 4am on Wednesday, October 26, when entry was forced to a club in Bellbird. A number of gaming machines had coins taken from them.

Tariq Al Issawi from NSW Police says detectives are seeking public assistance to identify a man who on each occasion concealed his identity with a hooded jumper.

"Anyone with information to assist police should call Maitland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."

CCTV images of the man.