A search is underway for a man police believe can assist with inquiries following an alleged break, enter and steal at a building site this morning.
About 6.30am (Sunday 21 July 2019), police were called to a premise under construction on Macquarie Road, Cardiff following reports of a trespassing offence underway.
When officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrived, they located a number of tools and a collection of building supplies stacked next to a black Suzuki 4WD.
Soon after police located a man who immediately ran from the building site. A short foot pursuit followed before officers lost sight of the man.
A perimeter was established and Polair and the Dog Unit were engaged. The man was tracked to local bushland but when he was unable to be located, the search for him was suspended at 12.30pm.
Police would like to speak to a man they hope can assist with their inquiries.
The man is described as of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, aged in his 40s, with a medium build and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and grey beanie.
Category: Newcastle News
All the news happening in the Newcastle and Hunter Region
Senior Rebels OMCG member charged with 18 offences after weapons, drugs seized – Rutherford
A senior member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) has been charged after Strike Force Raptor seized weapons, drugs and diesel suspected of being stolen, from a home in the Hunter region.
As part of ongoing investigations into an alleged criminal network, police from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North stopped and spoke to a 45-year-old man on Young Street, Rutherford, about 5.40am yesterday (Thursday 18 July 2019).
The man was arrested and charged for allegedly breaching his bail.
He was refused bail and appeared at Maitland Local Court that morning, where he was released on conditional bail.
A short time later, Strike Force Raptor North conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) search at a home in Rutherford.
During the search, investigators located several items, including a push dagger, a sheath knife, a disguised electronic control device, an extendable baton and Rebels OMCG colours.
Investigators also found a crystal substance suspected to be methylamphetamine, prescribed restricted substances and 20 drums of diesel suspected of being stolen.
All items were seized for forensic analysis.
The 45-year-old man was re-arrested at the scene and taken to Maitland Police Station.
He was charged with possess prohibited weapon without permit (x4), use prohibited weapon contrary to prohibition order (x4), fail to ensure safe keeping of prohibited weapon (x4), possess prohibited drug (x3), possess prescribed restricted substance (x2) and goods in custody.
The man was refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court today (Friday 19 July 2019).
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Charges laid after replica firearm produced during road rage incident -Tighes Hill
Police have charged a man with one count of intimidation and one count of possessing an unauthorised pistol after a road rage incident near Newcastle yesterday.
About 4.40pm (Thursday 18 July 2019) a 19-year-old woman, driving a white Suzuki Swift, turned out of Bryant Street onto Union Street, Tighes Hill.
Shortly after this, a green Honda CRV pulled in closely behind her and started beeping its horn.
The Honda, containing three males, then pulled up along-side the Suzuki and started making threatening gestures to her, with one man brandishing what appeared to be a handgun. The Honda followed her for a further three minutes before turning into a petrol station at Islington.
Following the incident, police from the Newcastle City Police Area Command made inquiries and located the vehicle.
As a result a 19-year-old man presented himself to detectives at Newcastle Police Station today (Friday 19 July 2019) where he was interviewed, arrested and charged.
The man was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 22 August 2019.
Break-in at registered club – Muswellbrook
Police are appealing for public assistance for information after a break-in at a registered club at Muswellbrook early this morning.
About 2am (Thursday 18 July 2019), a man gained access into the Sydney Street club and entered the office area. He then went to the safe and removed an amount of cash, before leaving the club.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
Anyone who noticed anything suspicious during the evening of Wednesday 17 July and the early hours of Thursday 18 July 2019 in Sydney Street is urged to contact 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.
Man charged with multiple domestic violence offences – Newcastle
A man will face court today after an investigation revealed he allegedly contravened apprehended violence orders 44 times.
About 9am today (Thursday 18 July 2019), a 29-year-old man was charged at Newcastle Police Station after officers attached to the Central Metropolitan Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team identified numerous instances of alleged threats made to a 35-year-old woman.
The man was charged with contravene prohibition / restriction in AVO (44), do act with intent to pervert the course of justice (14 years), act with intent to influence witness (3), prevent potential witness from attending proceedings (3) and outstanding warrant (breach of community release order).
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 18 July 2019).
Man charged following alleged break-in at registered club – Muswellbrook
Police have arrested a man following an alleged break-in at a registered club in the Hunter Valley this morning.
About 2am (Thursday 18 July 2019), a man allegedly gained access into the Sydney Street club and entered the office area, where he removed an amount of cash, before leaving the club.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
About 1.30pm, officers attended Scott Street, Muswellbrook and arrested a 34-year-old man.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with break, enter and steal.
He was refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court tomorrow (Friday 19 July 2019).
Business areas to get boost from events funding
Businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups are invited to apply for around $900,000 in funding as part of a program designed to attract more people into the City’s business areas.
Funding will be provided through an Expression of Interest process for projects or events in or surrounding the City Centre, Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
Funding of up to $500,000 for a single project or event in the Newcastle CBD is possible under the new program, with smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for events that are staged in Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what the new funding program generates in terms of ideas for new projects and events in the City CBD and some of our smaller commercial areas,” City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“Newcastle has long been considered the creative capital of Australia, and now we are putting money on the table to turn these ideas into events that activate local business areas.
“The funding is drawn from a special levy that commercial ratepayers in the city and parts of Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton pay. For the past decade the community had limited visibility of how the money was being spent.
“Now, instead of money being frittered away on administration and employee costs, it will be invested directly into events and projects that will attract people to local business districts.”
From 2011 to last month, the City provided more than $8 million funded via the special levy to three Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and two local chambers of commerce.
A review last year revealed major problems with the model, resulting in one BIA voluntarily suspending itself and City of Newcastle terminating the funding agreements of Newcastle Now and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce due to significant governance breaches.
A new model was adopted by Council in May after it decided that BIAs in Newcastle, Mayfield, Hamilton and Wallsend should receive no more than $100,000 annually.
The City is now working with local businesses in Mayfield, Hamilton and the City Centre to form new BIAs, with the aim of entering into 12-month service agreements.
The Wallsend BIA will continue to operate without change.
Council also voted in May to ban special rates from being used by BIAs on employee and administration costs, stipulating that funds should go towards events and projects that activate and promote the business areas.
A new shared resource to manage the administration responsibilities will be appointed in July to ensure previous governance issues within BIAs won’t re-occur.
Expressions of Interest applications for the new funding are open now and close on Friday 9 August 2019.
Funding will be provided through an Expression of Interest process for projects or events in or surrounding the City Centre, Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
Funding of up to $500,000 for a single project or event in the Newcastle CBD is possible under the new program, with smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for events that are staged in Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton.
“It’s going to be very exciting to see what the new funding program generates in terms of ideas for new projects and events in the City CBD and some of our smaller commercial areas,” City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said.
“Newcastle has long been considered the creative capital of Australia, and now we are putting money on the table to turn these ideas into events that activate local business areas.
“The funding is drawn from a special levy that commercial ratepayers in the city and parts of Hamilton, Wallsend and New Lambton pay. For the past decade the community had limited visibility of how the money was being spent.
“Now, instead of money being frittered away on administration and employee costs, it will be invested directly into events and projects that will attract people to local business districts.”
From 2011 to last month, the City provided more than $8 million funded via the special levy to three Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) and two local chambers of commerce.
A review last year revealed major problems with the model, resulting in one BIA voluntarily suspending itself and City of Newcastle terminating the funding agreements of Newcastle Now and Hamilton Chamber of Commerce due to significant governance breaches.
A new model was adopted by Council in May after it decided that BIAs in Newcastle, Mayfield, Hamilton and Wallsend should receive no more than $100,000 annually.
The City is now working with local businesses in Mayfield, Hamilton and the City Centre to form new BIAs, with the aim of entering into 12-month service agreements.
The Wallsend BIA will continue to operate without change.
Council also voted in May to ban special rates from being used by BIAs on employee and administration costs, stipulating that funds should go towards events and projects that activate and promote the business areas.
A new shared resource to manage the administration responsibilities will be appointed in July to ensure previous governance issues within BIAs won’t re-occur.
Expressions of Interest applications for the new funding are open now and close on Friday 9 August 2019.
Two women charged after Strike Force Raptor seize drugs and cash – New Lambton
Strike Force Raptor have charged two women with alleged drug supply offences following a vehicle stop near Newcastle yesterday.
About 1pm (Tuesday 16 July 2019), officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North, with assistance from Newcastle City Target Action Group, stopped a Holden Astra on Monash Road, New Lambton, and spoke with the driver, a 35-year-old woman, and her 24-year-old passenger.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and allegedly located 8.66g of methylamphetamine, a prescribed restricted substance, several goods suspected of being stolen and cash.
Both women were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 35-year-old Adamstown woman was charged with driving while disqualified- second offence, possess prohibited drug (x3), and supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).
She was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 17 July 2019).
The 24-year-old Lambton woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug (x4), deal with property proceeds of crime, goods in custody (x3) and possess prescribed restricted substance.
She was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 August 2019.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009 and conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
Breakthrough in finding a car park in the CBD
In an Australian first, motorists can now access new digital parking technology that guides them to available parking spaces within the Newcastle CBD.
The Find & Park function is the latest addition to City of Newcastle’s popular EasyPark app, which allows users to pay for parking and top up any additional time needed, remotely, using just their smart phone.
Find & Park has helped revolutionise parking in several European cities, and now Newcastle has been selected as the first city in Australia.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Find & Park was a game changer for parking in the city and would build on the success of the EasyPark app, which has now surpassed cash payments as the second most popular way to pay for parking behind credit card transactions.
“Find & Park takes the stress out of driving by providing motorists with clear, concise information on where best to find a park,” he said.
“It is an incredibly intelligent form of technology that has been adopted by some of the world’s smartest and most technologically savvy cities, such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome, Milan and Barcelona.”
To use Find & Park, motorists just need to open the EasyPark app and click ‘Find’, then enter their destination.
An in-built map then guides them to the best parking area which is closest to their destination.
The Find & Park map provides motorists with colour-coded ‘easy’, ‘moderate’ or ‘difficult’ options for on-street parking closest to their destination.
Data collected from a survey of parking spaces available in the city across a six-week period will initially inform the app, which will be refined and improved with the parking data generated by users.
Cr Clausen said the new Park and Find function would play a major role in easing congestion caused by motorists searching for parks.
“Information provided by EasyPark shows about 30 per cent of traffic in congested European cities, where the technology originates, is caused by people searching for parking,” he said.
“The technology will allow motorists to make better informed parking decisions, just like red and green parking indicators have done for drivers accessing car parks at major shopping centres in Newcastle and elsewhere.”
Currently, the Find & Park service is only available within the Newcastle CBD. City of Newcastle is currently working on expanding the footprint to other parts of the LGA.
Last month, City of Newcastle recorded 45,517 EasyPark transactions, close to 8,000 more than the 37,528 transactions recorded for cash payments.
The popularity of digital payments has been attributed to the City’s 25 per cent discount on parking rates introduced in January and extended to the end of 2019.
Separately, free parking at the mall parking station on Saturdays has also been extended until the end of 2019 to help free up on-street parking in the CBD.
The EasyPark app can be downloaded via the Apple app store by typing EasyPark or at Google Play for Android users. Just look for the bright pink square with the white ‘e’ in it
Motorists can also call EasyPark on 1300 734 070 for assistance with the app.
Drivers are reminded to adhere to NSW laws governing correct phone use while driving, such as using a fixed phone cradle only to make and take calls. For further information on this, visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/mobilephones/know-the-rules.html
The Find & Park function is the latest addition to City of Newcastle’s popular EasyPark app, which allows users to pay for parking and top up any additional time needed, remotely, using just their smart phone.
Find & Park has helped revolutionise parking in several European cities, and now Newcastle has been selected as the first city in Australia.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said Find & Park was a game changer for parking in the city and would build on the success of the EasyPark app, which has now surpassed cash payments as the second most popular way to pay for parking behind credit card transactions.
“Find & Park takes the stress out of driving by providing motorists with clear, concise information on where best to find a park,” he said.
“It is an incredibly intelligent form of technology that has been adopted by some of the world’s smartest and most technologically savvy cities, such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome, Milan and Barcelona.”
To use Find & Park, motorists just need to open the EasyPark app and click ‘Find’, then enter their destination.An in-built map then guides them to the best parking area which is closest to their destination.
The Find & Park map provides motorists with colour-coded ‘easy’, ‘moderate’ or ‘difficult’ options for on-street parking closest to their destination.
Data collected from a survey of parking spaces available in the city across a six-week period will initially inform the app, which will be refined and improved with the parking data generated by users.
Cr Clausen said the new Park and Find function would play a major role in easing congestion caused by motorists searching for parks.
“Information provided by EasyPark shows about 30 per cent of traffic in congested European cities, where the technology originates, is caused by people searching for parking,” he said.
“The technology will allow motorists to make better informed parking decisions, just like red and green parking indicators have done for drivers accessing car parks at major shopping centres in Newcastle and elsewhere.”
Currently, the Find & Park service is only available within the Newcastle CBD. City of Newcastle is currently working on expanding the footprint to other parts of the LGA.
Last month, City of Newcastle recorded 45,517 EasyPark transactions, close to 8,000 more than the 37,528 transactions recorded for cash payments.
The popularity of digital payments has been attributed to the City’s 25 per cent discount on parking rates introduced in January and extended to the end of 2019.
Separately, free parking at the mall parking station on Saturdays has also been extended until the end of 2019 to help free up on-street parking in the CBD.
The EasyPark app can be downloaded via the Apple app store by typing EasyPark or at Google Play for Android users. Just look for the bright pink square with the white ‘e’ in it
Motorists can also call EasyPark on 1300 734 070 for assistance with the app.
Drivers are reminded to adhere to NSW laws governing correct phone use while driving, such as using a fixed phone cradle only to make and take calls. For further information on this, visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/mobilephones/know-the-rules.html
Medical histories key to Stockton death inquiries
Police will be reviewing the medical histories of a husband and wife whose bodies were found at Stockton today.
About 6am (Friday 12 July 2019), emergency services were called to a home in Newcastle Street after concerns were raised for the welfare of the occupants.
Once inside, police found the body of a 75-year-old woman.
A short time later, emergency services retrieved the body of a 76–year-old man from the surf at Stockton Beach.
Crime scenes were established at both locations, which are being examined by specialist forensic officers.
Newcastle City detectives have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Initial inquiries suggest no third parties are being sought.
Detectives will await the outcome of post mortem examinations to determine the direction of further inquiries.