Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged as part of investigations into several armed robberies in the Lake Macquarie area earlier this year.
Strike Force Woonooka was established by Lake Macquarie detectives to investigate five armed robberies at various service stations in the local area, which occurred between Thursday 10 June 2021 and Saturday 31 July 2021.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a property on Thompson Street, Belmont South, about 12.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 September 2021), where they arrested a 30-year-old man.
During the search, police seized a mobile phone and several kitchen knives.
The man was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, and armed with intent commit indictable offence.
Police will allege in court the man was involved in armed robberies that occurred at a service station on Main Road in Cardiff on Thursday 10 June 2021 and Friday 9 July 2021, a service station on Main Road in Edgeworth on Saturday 12 June 2021, a service station on Collier Street in Redhead on Thursday 22 July 2021, and a service station on Warners Bay Road in Warners Bay on Saturday 31 July 2021.
He was refused bail to appear in Belmont Local Court today (Friday 10 September 2021).
A 28-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were previously arrested and charged over their alleged roles in the robberies. They remain before the courts.
Investigations under Strike Force Woonooka are continuing.

A man will face court tomorrow following a barricade incident in the Hunter Region.
About 6.30am today (Friday 10 September 2021), officers from Newcastle City Police District responded to reports of a domestic-related assault at a unit on Fowler Street, Hamilton.
A 24-year-old woman met with officers outside the unit and advised that a man known to her had allegedly entered the unit via an opened door about 3am.
Police were told the man assaulted the woman using a crowbar and she suffered minor injuries.
She advised police a female relative, aged 22, and two young children were still inside the home.
It will be alleged that the man was in possession of a crowbar and knife, and threatened police, refusing to allow entry.
Specialist officers, including Police Negotiators, also attended the scene.
About 9am, the younger woman and the two children walked out of the unit uninjured.
About 10am, the man walked out of the unit and was arrested.
The 26-year-old man was taken by NSW Ambulance paramedics to John Hunter Hospital for assessment.
After being assessed the man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic), assault occasioning actual bodily harm, use etc weapon to prevent lawful detention etc, aggravated break and with intent armed.
He has been bail refused to appear tomorrow (Saturday 11 September 2021) at Newcastle Local Court.

City of Newcastle has provided $110,000 towards the purchase of food packages and toiletries, as well as crisis accommodation, counselling and web connectivity to community groups responding to the current lockdown of the city.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the funding was part of an expanded Community and Economic Resilience Package (CERP) designed to combat the economic and social impacts of the current lockdown.

“City of Newcastle has an important role in coordinating local services and providing targeted support,” Cr Nelmes said.
“When the pandemic was declared last year City of Newcastle was quick to respond to the needs of our community, providing rapid financial support to frontline services struggling to cope with the sudden surge in demand.
“With the current Delta outbreak placing added strain on community members and the services that support them, City of Newcastle has expanded this response, dispersing more than $110,000 amongst 15 community organisations.
“Our Rapid Response Grants will give these organisations the resources they need to address critical challenges for some of our most vulnerable residents as we continue to work together to stay safe and keep our community strong.”
The grants will allow existing service providers to supply nutritious food and vouchers for essential needs, improve access to community services, address issues such as social isolation, and increase access to affordable internet, digital technology and equipment to improve participation in education and access to essential services.
Erin Beard from the Family Support Network said the funding would allow them to help more families by providing food, toiletries and baby items, as well as school supplies to help children and young people improve their home learning experience.
“We are all generally feeling the stress of lockdown but for families who are already under duress, these COVID times add an extra load. This grant from City of Newcastle has meant we can relieve some of that stress,” Ms Beard said.
“With the impact of COVID-19 we have changed the way we are providing services and with more online groups and facetime calls, we are aware of the burden of this on families who need to use their data and internet for this support. For children that are doing online learning as part of home schooling, data usage can be an additional cost. This grant means we can support families in a practical way, by covering some of the associated costs.
“We can also provide basic necessities for babies and children, meet some of their school needs and relieve some of the burden of the cost of grocery items.”
Recipients of City of Newcastle’s Rapid Response Grants:

• ACON – emergency food and personal care relief packs
• Awabakal Ltd – culturally tailored communication, outreach and support resources and materials
• Catholic Care Social Services – emergency relief packs and casework support
• Community Disability Alliance Hunter – peer-led social support and public health information package
• Family Support Newcastle – mother and baby items, web connectivity resources and food and toiletry packages
• Got Your Back Sista – emergency food relief and counselling vouchers
• Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church Pantry – hampers with food, essential items and toiletries
• Hunter Multicultural Communities – welfare packs and multilingual newsletter production
• Hope Street Wallsend and Mayfield – food preparation and emergency relief packages
• Jesmond and Maryland Neighbourhood Centre – small equipment IT purchases for phone and web connectivity
• LIVEFree Project Hamilton South – scaling up of existing service to meet demand for welfare checks
• Newcastle Beacon – emergency relief food and pharmacy packages
• NOVA for Women – emergency accommodation funding and small equipment purchases for phone and web connectivity
• REACH Homeless Services – food and hygiene packs
• SOUL Café – short term staffing costs for mental health clinician and street manager

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Lake Macquarie area.
Jade Maybury, aged 25, was last seen leaving a house on Bridge Street, Morisset, about 9am yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021).
Police were notified about 5.30pm and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into Jade’s whereabouts.
A search of the surrounding area commenced, with assistance from specialist police including PolAir, the Dog Unit, Police Rescue and State Emergency Service (SES).
There are serious concerns for the welfare of Jade, who lives with Asperger’s syndrome and another medical condition.
Jade is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of medium build, with red/ginger hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured t-shirt with faded writing on the front.
As the search continues, anyone who sees Jade or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Police have charged four men and seized $1.5m worth of cannabis as part of an ongoing investigation into cultivation of cannabis in the Hunter Valley area.
In July this year (2021), officers attached to the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad commenced an investigation into the hydroponic cultivation of cannabis in the Hunter region.
Following extensive inquiries, officers executed a search warrant at a property on Cessnock Road, Abermain, about 12.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021).
During the search, officers found a sophisticated indoor hydroponic set up and seized 157 cannabis plants.
Police arrested four men, aged 34, 27, 24 and 23 years old, at the property.
The men were taken to Cessnock Police Station, where they were each charged with take part enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis commercial.
They were also issued a $5,000 fine each for breaching the Public Health Order.
The men were bail refused to appear before Cessnock Local Court today (Thursday 9 September 2021), where they were formally refused bail.
As part of inquiries, about 3.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021), police executed a second search warrant at a property on Wollombi Road, Cessnock, where they found another sophisticated set-up and seized a further 148 cannabis plants.
Investigations continue.

Police have charged four arborists after they allegedly returned to the Lake Macquarie area, breaching the Public Health Order for the second time this month.
Last Wednesday (1 September 2021), police received reports from members of the public via Crime Stoppers about a group of arborists who had been canvassing the Lake Macquarie area for work.
The following day (Thursday 2 September 2021) police spoke to the men, who told police they’d been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern.
Further inquiries revealed one of the men had provided inaccurate information to obtain a Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney and enter Regional NSW, another man did not have a permit at all, and other employees hadn’t had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney as required under the Public Health Order.
Seven men were subsequently issued with PINs totalling $33,000 and directed to return to their homes in Greater Sydney.
About 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 September 2021), police received information that a group of six arborists were doorknocking homes at Cardiff.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and spoke with the group before four of the men were arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.
They were subsequently issued Court Attendance Notices for not comply with noticed direction and not ensure true and accurate information provided to Service NSW.
Police will allege the 41-year-old from Kingswood, 25-year-old from Leumeah, 57-year-old from Colyton and 37-year-old from Whalan had previously been issued with PINs for breaching the Public Health Order.
Police will further allege the men were operating under a different business name and had removed all company identification from their vehicles.
They are due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 2 November 2021.
A fifth man – a 33-year-old from Ropes Crossing – was issued with PINs totalling $6000 for breaching the Public Health Order and providing inaccurate information in his permit application.
Investigations remain ongoing into the sixth man.

A child missing on a rural property in the Hunter region since Friday has been located following a large-scale search.
Just before 12.30pm on Friday (3 September 2021), officers from Hunter Valley Police District responded to reports a child was missing at a rural property on Yengo Drive, Putty, about 75km south of Singleton.
The three-year-old could not be located after he was last seen at a home on the property about 11.45am.
Officers commenced a coordinated multi-agency response which included Trailbike officers, Police Rescue, The Dog and Mounted Unit, Police divers, and PolAir.
Police were assisted by NSW Ambulance, State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS), and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA).
The search continued since then, assisted by hundreds of emergency service volunteers.
About 11.30am today (Monday 6 September 2021), the boy was located on a nearby riverbank by PolAir, who directed ground search crews to his location.
He has been reunited with his family and is being assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

Our family is together again. For that we are grateful to everyone who has assisted in any way over the last three days.
Thank you to the NSW Police, Rescue Services, volunteers, community members, friends and family who have worked tirelessly to find AJ.
AJ is fine. Hold your kids close.
Please give our family the privacy to appreciate what we have.