Police Investigate Late Night Theft On Campus At Newcastle University

BY IAN  CROUCH

Police are searching for two young men involved in a robbery overnight at the Newcastle University's Callaghan campus.

A 20-year-old woman was walking along the Ring Road towards Warabrook Railway Station at about 10.50pm on Wednesday listening to music through headphones.

She didn't notice two males who approached her from either side.

Police say the pair, who had their faces covered with hooded jumpers, demanded her handbag.

She complied and the pair ran off towards the Bar on the Hill.

The young woman gave chase but the bandits managed to escape.

Supermarket Manager Threatened During Armed Robbery At Jewells

BY IAN CROUCH

A supermarket manager has had a knife pulled on him during a brazen robbery at Jewells.

He was closing up the Coles store on Ntaba Road at about 8.30pm on Wednesday when two people pushing a trolley full of goods approached and threatened him with a knife before escaping with items.

Police later found the goods dumped nearby.

The manager wasn't injured and police are checking CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprits.

Fire Forces Evacuation Of Disabled Residents At Edgeworth

BY IAN CROUCH

10 people have been evacuated after a fire engulfed a two cars and a carport at Edgeworth early Thursday morning.

Newcastle Fire Command says 7 fire trucks and a duty commander were called to a block of flats on Charles Street at 1.30am to find the cars and the carport under the unit block well alight.

They managed to stop the fire spreading to the units.

10 people with disabilities were safely evacuated and no-one was injured.

It's taken crews more than 3 hours to fully extinguish and mop up the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Firefighters Say Morisset Grass Fire Deliberately Lit

BY IAN CROUCH

Firefighters say a large grass fire at Morisset which broke out during Tuesday's catastrophic conditions was deliberately lit.

The fire started in a large area of grass just to the west of Gibson Oval off Kahibah and Newcastle Streets at about 5.00pm

A group of youths on motorbikes were seen leaving the area at the time.

A large strike team comprising firefighters from Budgewoi, Wangi, Morisset and the RFS took about an hour to douse the flames.

Firefighters say there were 3 ignitions points, indicating the fire was deliberately lit. 

House Destroyed By Fire At East Branxton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which destroyed a house at East Branxton early Wednesday as suspicious.

18 fire trucks were called to the single level timber and iron house on Vineyard Haven Parade just after 1.30am to find the home well alight.

4 occupants managed to escape unharmed.

It's believed the fire started in the rear of the building.

It's taken crews 2 hours to extinguish and mop up the fire

University of Newcastle to Reopen Closed Campuses

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The University of Newcastle has confirmed it will reopen its Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses tomorrow following today's shutdown due to catastrophic bushfire risk in the Hunter.

The campuses (excluding Port Macquarie and Taree) will return to normal operations at 12:01am Wednesday, with staff expected to attend work as usual. The University is still making decisions about its Coffs Harbour site, amid a spate of serious bushfires on the north coast.

Exams scheduled for Wednesday will go ahead as planned, while The Forum and other campus retail and childcare centres will reopen for normal business.

Those exams set for Port Macquarie and Taree will be rescheduled soon; students can expect to be emailed directly with details.

Callaghan and Ourimbah students who had exams scheduled for today will sit them on Saturday.

The University is advising staff and students to avoid travelling to campus if it is unsafe to do so; staff should notify their supervisor and students should submit an Adverse Circumstances claim if they are unable to attend exams in current conditions.

Properties At Threat From Greta Fire

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

UPDATE 5:45PM: The Harper Street, Greta fire has been downgraded to Watch and Act status.

An Emergency Warning has been issued for a grass fire burning at Greta.

We are hearing reports the fire is 3 hectares in size and moving fast in the vicinity of Harper Street and York Street, threatening properties on the north side of York Street.

Crews are on scene. Smoke and embers are emanating from the fire.

Two houses on Harper Street have sustained some fire damage to the backyard.

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