Nabbed While Napping: Alleged Offender Found Sleeping in Stolen Car

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A Hunter parolee is likely wishing he was dreaming after being discovered fast asleep inside a stolen car.

Shortly after 7 o'clock Monday morning, the 21-year-old was woken by police investigating reports a stolen Mazda 3 was parked on Mordue Parade at Jesmond.

He was found asleep, wearing gloves, in the front seat of the car.

Police arrested the man and seized three knives, multiple sets of gloves and a face mask from his pockets.

The Rutherford man, who was on parole and already on conditional bail for a separate offence, was refused bail to face court on Monday charged with three offences.

Police say the car was stolen during a break and enter on Kitchener Parade at The Hill on Friday night.

Investigations into the break and enter incident are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle Police 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man Off to Newcastle Court after a Breaking into an Islington Home

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after an alleged break and enter in Islington overnight.

Police say at about 1am a man broke into a home in Anderton Street and stole a handbag, wallet, car keys and Nissan Navara 4WD which was parked outside.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command commenced an investigation and found the vehicle on Young Road, Broadmeadow.

The 33-year-old almost escaped the clutches of police after a short foot pursuit nearby.

He's been charged with aggravated break and enter, take and drive conveyance, goods in custody, and breach of bail. He was also refused bail.

The man faces Newcastle Local Court today.

Four Youths Arrested After Break In At Windale Gateshead Bowling Club

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have taken four youths into custody after a break-in at Lake Macquarie club.

Police say a Ford Falcon was stolen from a Windale address just before 10.30 last night with five youths taking off on a joy ride.

Then just before 3am, the intruder alarm was activated at the Windale Gateshead Bowling Club in Lake Street.

Police were quickly on scene and arrested four of the five youths aged between 12 and 16.

It's alleged they stole charity tins from the club.

The boys are currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Your neighbourhood could be watching you again soon

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Crime appears to be gathering momentum in suburbs throughout the Hunter, and residents are being pushed to think about taking it into their own hands to deal with it.

Neighbourhood Watch is a term we've all grown up hearing about, but as time has gone on it appears to have all but disappeared.

Hunter Area Coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch Bill Hackney is teaming up with Maitland West Ward Councillor Henry Meskauskas to resurrect the program and organise a public forum to gauge the community's interest.

Bill says the population of Aberglassyn alone has grown 40 per cent since the 2007and with that crime increases as well.

In Rutherford in just the last month, there were nine break and enter offences, 34 reports of malicious damage and 50 thefts among other crimes.

"The Hunter is growing at a rate of 5 new people moving into the suburb everyday and the crime we're experiencing in Maitland the hunter region I don't think there's enough [police] to combat the increase in crime," said Bill.

"It's always been there [Neighbourhood Watch], it's just been asleep for many years. Last year Neighbourhood Watch Australasia launched a nationally recognised Neighbourhood Watch week in October which will happen again this year getting the name back out there so we're realised that neighbourhood watch isn't what it was 30 years ago - it needs to change."

Bill is also on the advisory board for NSW Police in Paramatta which is helping work towards resurrecting the program for the 21st century. He says in an age of social media and technology, Neighbourhood Watch would be more effective and easier than ever.

A date for the public forum is yet to be decided upon.

Police chase ends with car breaking down in Broke

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police were led on a lengthy car chase through the Hunter Valley last night which reached speeds of 100km/hr and lasted just over an hour.

Officers were patrolling Mount View Road in Pokolbin when they noticed a female driver in a white Mazda 323 believed to be linked to a spate of break and enters in the area.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle but it sped up and the chase began through Cessnock, Bellbird, Paxton, Millfield and Laguna ending up back in Broke after 61 minutes. At one stage the female driver of the Mazda 323 rammed a police car.

The car ironically broke down in Broke and the 36-year-old Cessnock woman was arrested.

She was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with 15 offenses relating to last night's chase and is under investigation for the alleged break and enters in Pokolbin.

Aged Care break and enter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have released a description of a man wanted for the attempted break and enters of an aged care centre in Kurri Kurri earlier this month.

Police are investigating a break and enter at the Lang Street facility on Saturday 10 June at about 11pm when a man broke into a 78-year-old woman's room demanding cash. The man allegedly assaulted her and stole a wallet containing cash and credit cards. She suffered bruising to her face.

A second break and enter was attempted a week later on Sunday 18 June at 11:30pm - a resident says she heard a chair move on her back verandah and reported a man was attempting to break into her room.

The man didn't gain entry and left before being seen.

Police believe the two incidences are linked.


The man is described as having dark hair and wearing shorts with two stripes down the sides and a jumper and has been seen with a dog.

Man charged after crime spree across Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

If you've noticed you've lost a surf board or two, a bike, some tools and maybe even a tent, police might have found them for you.

A man is facing numerous charges after a crime spree throughout Newcastle and Lake Macquarie where he allegedly broke into a number of vehicles and homes stealing a number of items.

Police have been investigating the break ins which yesterday led them to a home in Kotara South, where they arrested a 30-year-old man just after 10am, and seized various items including a motorcycle which police allege is stolen.

Officers then moved on to a home in Mayfield on Havelock Street where they executed a search warrant.

At this location officers located a number of allegedly stolen items including electric tools, seven bicycles, five surf boards, large amounts of portable electronic equipment, a generator, a tent, a lawn mower and even a whipper snipper.

The 30-year-old man is accused of stealing the items from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle West, Broadmeadow, Islington, Kotara South, Redhead and Wyoming.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with 11 offenses relating to the incidences.

He was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today.

Alleged thief caught after break in on The Esplanade

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An alleged thief will face Newcastle Local Court today after he was charged with breaking into a shop in Warners Bay.

A shop along The Esplanade was broken into early on Sunday morning with an amount of cash and watches were stolen.

The incident was reported to police who launched an investigation leading them to a house in Boolaroo yesterday morning.

Police attached to the Lake Macquarie Property Crime Reduction Team executed a search warrant at the Sixth Street address and seized a number of items.

A 47-year-old man was arrested at the scene and charged with break, enter and steal, goods in custody and custody of a knife in a public place.

He was refused bail and appears in court today.

Man stabbed during aggravated home invasion

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 62-year old man is recovering in John Hunter Hospital after being stabbed in the shoulder at a home invasion in Singleton.

Two men with jumpers covering their faces forced entry into the Howe Street unit at about 9pm last night (Monday 2nd January).

The invaders fled from the scene and the victim took himself to Singleton Hospital where he was later transferred to the John Hunter.

A crime scene has been established and Hunter Valley detectives are investigating.

Anyone with further information are being urged to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.