Hand-cuffed Prisoner Makes a Run For It in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A prisoner's attempt to escape police custody hasn't quite gone to plan.

The 21-year-old was taken back to Maitland Police Station yesterday after facing Maitland court charged with alleged stealing, and while handcuffed and being taken out of a police van he made a run for it.

He managed to get to the back of the police compound and tried to scale a perimeter fence but police were hot on his heels and dragged him down.

While getting him down, the man cut his hand and was taken to hospital for first aid treatment.

The man was then charged with attempted escape lawful custody.

The 21-year-old was originally charged with allegedly stealing the cigarette machine from Shenanigans in Maitland on November 14. He was refused bail in court.

Image triplem.com.au

More Arrests Made Over Terrifying Abermain Armed Robbery

BY JESSICA ROUSE

More charges have been laid over a terrifying hold-up at Abermain Bowling Club earlier this year.

Detectives have charged two more people over the June 19 robbery where a female employee was allegedly tied up with duct tape and $16-thousand dollars was stolen.

The State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad arrested a 33-year-old Weston man and a 29-year-old woman from Pelaw Main yesterday.

The man was refused bail and appears in Maitland Local Court today, the woman was also refused bail and will front Cessnock Local Court today.

They're not the first arrests over the incident, a 35-year-old man was arrested the day after the incident and charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, maliciously damage vehicle by fire, stealing and a number of traffic offences.

He is still before the courts.

Newcastle a hotspot for sexual assault

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Most types of crime have fallen across the state over the last two years, but Newcastle and Lake Macquarie appear to be problem areas for crime with an increase.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research have released their quarterly update and according to their statistics, five types of crime have significantly increased including sexual assault, indecent assault, break and enter (non-dwelling), steal from vehicles and malicious damage to property.

Director of the bureau Dr Don Weatherburn says Newcastle and Lake Macquarie differ from most regional areas across the state.

"Five categories of crime have increased in Newcastle and it's the only place other than Broken hill which showed that many increases in crime. So they were, for example, a 13 per cent increase in sexual assault, 27 per cent increase in indecent assault which are quite remarkable and disappointing results."

Sexual assault and indecent assault are particularly on the up, with a 13 per cent increase in sexual assault and a 27 per cent increase in indecent acts/assault.

Chief Inspector Dean Olsen says a rise in people reporting incidents has contributed to the higher statistic for Newcastle.

"Traditionally it is a crime that can be under-reported. We want people to have the confidence in the police that they can come forward and report these matters. We regularly, over the last couple of years, have been taking reports of historical complaints of sexual assault and indecent assault."

He adds in terms of malicious damage offences, in which there was a 19.2 per cent increase across Newcastle according to the statistics, it's often a case of the same offenders committing large amounts of the same crime.

"We've had a couple of evening in the last six months where groups of offenders have committed large amounts of malicious damage offences. One in particular where up to 70 motor vehicles were damaged. Due to assistance from the press and the public and good diligent police work we've arrested offenders in relation to that one," said Chief Inspector Olsen.

While the statistics show a significant number, over the past six years Chief Inspector Olsen says there's really been a reduction in the vast majority of categories year upon year.

"Statistics are something you can look at a whole range of angles on. We are quite vigilant, as most police commands are across the state. Any opportunity that we can do to implement a tactic or a strategy to bring down crime, we leave no stone unturned that's for sure."

Swift thief steals charity tin

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are looking for a thief who calming and quickly stole a charity tin from a Hamilton newsagent over the weekend.

The man calmly entered the newsagent on Saturday morning and CCTV footage shows him walk over to the unattended counter and swiftly put a charity tin in his bag and leave just as calmly as he entered.

The daylight robbery is being described as a very low act with the charity tin having collected around $240 for the John Hunter Children's Hospital.

Police are looking to speak with the man pictured in the CCTV footage - he was wearing a green jumper and has a large build.

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

Man arrested following armed robbery at Abermain

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and held on multiple charges following an armed robbery in Abermain on Monday.

Police arrested the man at around 5pm yesterday after stopping a vehicle on Victory Parade, Jesmond.

It follows his alleged involvement in a break-and-enter at Abermain bowling club on Monday evening.

It is alleged the arrested man and another man forced their way into the bowling club, armed with a shortened firearm and sledge hammer, and approached a female employee before binding her hands and feet with duct tape. They then proceeded to ransack the premises, fleeing in a stolen vehicle with a large sum of cash.

Police attended the bowling club, where they untied the woman and established a crime scene. A stolen vehicle was found burnt-out in a nearby street.

The man has been charged with armed robbery, damage to property by fire and driving while disqualified.

He is also facing larceny charges relating to an incident on Sunday 11th June at a hardware store at Taylors Beach.

Investigations into the robbery continue, whilst the man has been refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Search continues for men who robbed a man at Tingira Heights

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still searching for two men who held up and robbed a man in the street at Tingira Heights.

A 21-year-old man was walking along Violet Town Road at about 5:30am yesterday when he was approached by the pair who threatened him with a gun.

The two men managed to get away in a small bronze or maroon coloured sedan with a mobile phone, key cards and some personal property.

The victim wasn't injured during the incident and no shots were fired.

Anyone with information is urged to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Pair arrested after break-ins at Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two people face court today after being charged with break, enter and steal in Lake Macquarie this morning.

At about 1am, the 43-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were seen driving down Royalty Street in West Wallsend with their car headlights off.

They broke into three new homes and took items from the properties which they were seen putting in their car.

Police stopped the maroon Toyota Corolla and searched it, also finding house breaking tools and a knife in their possession.

They were taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter, goods in custody, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife.

They were refused bail.

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.

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.