Man charged after hydro house dismantled – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged after police uncovered a hydroponic cannabis house in Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 10:15am (Tuesday 2 August 2016), officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended a home on Macquarie Street, Fennel Bay, following reports of a domestic incident.

Inside, police allegedly located cannabis plants and identified a hydroponic set up in a room.

The occupants returned and a 34-year-old man was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.

A crime scene was declared and six cannabis plants, approximately 2.5 kilograms of cannabis, and hydroponic equipment was seized by police. All items will undergo forensic examination.

The man was charged with supply cannabis, cultivate prohibited plant, and possess prohibited drug.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 23 August 2016.

Man charged after guns and drugs found in car near Wagga Wagga

 

A man has been charged after police located drugs, an air pistol, a replica revolver, and ammunition in a car, following a vehicle stop in Turvey Park, near Wagga Wagga, yesterday.

About 3pm (Tuesday 2 August 2016), officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command stopped a car carrying three men on Bourke Street, Turvey Park.

Following investigations, officers searched the car and men, and allegedly found an air pistol, a replica revolver, ammunition, and drugs believed to be ‘ice’, in a resealable bag with a picture of a redback spider.

The items were seized and will undergo forensic examinations.

One of the occupants of the car, a 31-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was charged with possess firearm (x2), possess prohibited drug, and breach firearm prohibition order.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Wednesday 3 August 2016).

Police investigate after girl forced into car, assaulted – Lake Macquarie

Police are investigating after a 15-year-old girl was grabbed by two men, forced into a car and indecently assaulted in Cameron Park yesterday afternoon.

About 4.45pm (Tuesday 2 August 2016), a 15-year-old girl got off a bus on Blackwood Crescent, after catching the bus from her High School.

Police have been told that after exiting the bus she was grabbed by a man.

After he grabbed the girl, a second man pulled up nearby in a small black four door sedan.

The first man forced the girl into the backseat of the car and indecently assaulted her.

The girl fought back against the man punching him a number of times before she broke from his grasp and ran away.

She was not injured during the incident.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were notified and commenced investigations.

Investigators are appealing to the public for assistance and are hoping to speak with two men who might be able to assist with inquiries.

One of the men is described as having a tanned complexion and a solid build. He was wearing a black hooded jumper, faded black baggy jeans, and black sneakers. The other is not further described.

Police appeal for witnesses following aggravated break, enter and steal – South Tamworth

Police are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated break, enter and steal in South Tamworth last night.

About 9.40pm (Monday 1 August 2016), a 45-year-old woman returned to a room at a motel on Goonoo Goonoo Road.

A short time later, four unknown males forced entry to the room and attempted to take the woman’s handbag. When she resisted, a struggle ensued.

One of the males produced a knife and threatened the woman before the group fled the scene taking her bag.

The woman suffered minor injuries; however, did not require treatment.

Officers attached to Oxley Local Area Command were called and established a crime scene.

One of the males is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged between 14 and 16, tall, of slim build, and was seen wearing a red hooded jumper.

The three other males are not further described.

Any witnesses who have not spoken to police are urged to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.

Woman charged following domestic stabbing – Lake Macquarie region

A woman has been arrested and charged after a man was stabbed during a domestic incident in the Lake Macquarie area last night.

Police were told a man and woman had been arguing at their Warners Bay home throughout Monday night (1 August 2016), when the woman allegedly armed herself with a knife about 9.30pm.

The man grabbed the knife, suffering a cut to his hand, and was then allegedly stabbed in the arm and back with another knife.

The woman suffered a head wound after being pushed into a refrigerator during the incident.

Four children were at the home at the time of the incident but were not injured.

Police were called to the home several hours later and the man, aged 32, was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he is being treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The woman, aged 56, was taken to Belmont Hospital, then to Belmont Police Station upon her release.

She was charged with reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Tuesday 2 August 2016).

Inquiries are continuing.

19 charged after retail theft operation – Charlestown

Police have charged 19 people after a retail theft operation in Charlestown last week.

Officers from the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group and Property Crime Reduction Team undertook a retail theft operation in the Charlestown area between Wednesday 27 July and Saturday 30 July.

The operation was established after police identified a significant increase in retail theft in the Charlestown area in the first half of 2016.

During the operation police apprehended 62 people. Of these 62 people, 19 people were charged. A total of 49 offences, mainly relating to retail theft, were charged, 30 criminal infringement notices were given out and 12 juveniles were cautioned.

During the operation the following people were charged:

A 34-year-old female was charged with shoplifting, goods in custody and resist arrest. She was granted bail and will appear in Belmont Local Court on 24 August 2016.

A 42-year-old male was charged with shoplifting. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice and will appear in Belmont Local Court 24 August 2016.

A 15-year-old male appeared at a Children’s Court today (Monday 1 August 2016) after he was charged with shoplifting and enter dwelling with intent.

A 32-year-old female was charged with shoplifting. She was refused bail and will appear in Toronto Local Court on 6 September 2016.

A 29-year-old female appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Friday 29 July 2016 after she was charged with three counts of shoplifting and three outstanding warrants.

A 16-year-old male charged with two counts of break enter and steal. He was granted bail and will appear at a Children’s Court on 31 August 2016.

A 32-year-old male charged with take and drive conveyance and two counts of larceny. He was granted bail and will appear in Belmont Local Court on 24 August 2016.

A 31-year-old female charged with shoplifting and state false name. She was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court on 15 September 2016.

A 28-year-old male charged stealing. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice and will appear at Belmont Local Court on 31 August 2016.

Lake Macquarie Detective Superintendent, Brett Greentree, says the operation was a success and similar operations will be conducted in the coming months.

“It was a successful four-day operation with our officers making a significant number of arrests,” Superintendent Greentree said.

“With Christmas and peak shopping seasons coming up we will continue to monitor retail theft in the area and conduct similar operations.”

Wagga Wagga Local Area Command launches 'Dob in a Dealer' as state-wide campaign continues

A state-wide campaign aimed at mobilising members of the public in the fight against ‘ice’ will arrive in Wagga Wagga Local Area Command (LAC) today.

The ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign has been initiated and funded by the Commonwealth Government, and is currently taking place in States and Territories across Australia.

In NSW, the campaign is being held in 21 LACs across the state, over a six-month period between March and September 2016.

It will run in each LAC for two weeks, during which police and Crime Stoppers will conduct community-engagement activities designed to educate the public on the dangers of illicit drugs and how they can show their support for the campaign.

These activities will also highlight the important role members of the public have in helping police to shut down drug-manufacturing syndicates and arrest drug suppliers.

During the campaign, residents across Wagga Wagga LAC will be urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the online portal, where they can report drug-dealing activities anonymously.

While members of the public are encouraged to report any prohibited-drug activity via Crime Stoppers, the focus of the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign is the production, distribution and use of ‘ice’ (crystal methylamphetamine).

Hume Highway reopens after car crash at Jugiong

Southbound lanes of the Hume Highway have reopened after a crash near Jugiong on Saturday afternoon.

A northbound lane closed after a second crash about 45 minutes after the first has also reopened.

Fire crews and paramedics responded to the initial crash near Berremangra Road just after 1pm.

Both southbound lanes were closed for the SnowyHydro South Care helicopter to land.

Traffic was redirected through Burley Griffin Way and the Olympic Highway while emergency services worked at the scene, with delays of about an hour reported.

The crews then turned their attention to the second crash, a single-vehicle rollover, and closed a northbound lane just after 2pm.

It is not yet known whether there were any injuries from the two crashes.

Police appeal for information following robbery – Lambton

Police are appealing for information after a 73-year-old woman and her friend were robbed in Lambton last night.

About 6pm (Saturday 30 July 2016), the woman and her friend arrived at a home on Armstrong Street and commenced to unpack the boot of a vehicle.

The pair entered a unit and a short time later, an unknown man appeared at the premises, before threatening the pair and demanding their handbags.

The man fled the scene, taking two handbags. The women were uninjured.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Local Area Command were called and established a crime scene.

As inquiries into the incident continue, police would like to speak to a man who may be able to assist them.

He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 30-years-old, of medium build, and was seen wearing a beanie.

Anyone with information is urged to come forward and contact local police via Crime Stoppers.

Police investigate six suspicious vehicle fires – Lake Macquarie Local Area Command

Police are appealing for public assistance as they investigate six separate vehicle fires in the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, which are believed to be linked.

About 3am this morning (Sunday 31 July 2016), emergency services were called to Kolang and Biwong Streets, and surrounding areas in Blacksmiths, following reports of at least six vehicles on fire.

Fire & Rescue NSW officers attended and extinguished the blazes. No one was injured.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have established a number of crime scenes, and are investigating the cause of the fires.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe the incidents are all linked and are suspicious.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, are urged to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.