A man and a woman have been charged after an alleged aggravated break and enter on the NSW Central Coast yesterday.

About 12pm (Thursday 19 May 2016), a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were in their bedroom on Thomas Street, Wallsend, when an unknown man forced entry to the home.

Police will allege the man, armed with a knife and replica firearm, spoke to the occupants before leaving.

A short time later, the man returned with an unknown woman, and the pair forced entry into the home.

The intruders allegedly threatened the occupants, before taking a number of items including mobile phones, and a motor vehicle.

About 1.30pm, officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command stopped a vehicle on Blue Gun Road, Jesmond, and spoke to the female driver and male passenger, before searching them and the car.

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a replica pistol, machete and property believed to be stolen.

The man and woman were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station and Newcastle Police Station respectively.

The 42-year-old man was charged with special aggravated break and enter, take and detain in company, threaten person with intent to commit serious indictable offence in company, malicious damage, take and drive conveyance and possess unauthorised pistol.

The 26-year-old woman was charged with special aggravated break and enter, take and detain in company, threaten person with intent to commit serious indictable offence in company, malicious damage, common assault and drive whilst disqualified.

Both were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 20 May 2016).

The man thought to be missing, after his yacht was found adrift and unattended on the state’s north on Tuesday, has been found, safe and well.

Police have been told a man came across the vessel named ‘FireFly’ on Tuesday (16 May 2016), off Samurai Beach, Port Stephens, and was unable to locate anyone board.

The man towed the yacht to deeper water and anchored it, before contacting Marine Rescue and Marine Area Command.

Yesterday, officers attached to the Marine Area Command and Port Stephens Water Police, with assistance from Volunteer Marine Rescue, Surf Lifesaving, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and local police covered areas from Nelson Bay to Stockton Beach.

The search continued at 8am this morning (Thursday 19 May 2016).

About 12.00pm today (Thursday 19 May 2016), a 48-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station, to notify police he was safe and well after being alerted by reports in the media.

Officers from the Marine Area Command are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat being abandoned.

Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.

About 12.45pm today (Thursday 19 May 2016), police and emergency services attended Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow, about 5km north of Heddon Greta following reports of a crash.

On arrival, they found two cars – a blue Nissan Pulsar and a white Mitsubishi Magna – had collided head-on.

Both female drivers were trapped in their vehicles for a short time before being released by VRA rescue.

The 33-year-old female driver of the Mitsubishi and her 2-year-old son were assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and were found to be uninjured. She was breath-tested at the scene with a negative result.

The 21-year-old female driver of the Nissan was taken by NSW Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition with head injuries.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command have established a crime scene while they investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Cessnock Road is blocked in both directions and local traffic diversions are in place.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and visit www.livetraffic.com for more information, as the road is expected to be closed for sometime.

Police have found almost $280 000 cash following a vehicle stop near Wagga Wagga.

About 9am today (Wednesday 18 May 2016), police attached to Cootamundra Highway Patrol were alerted to a vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner on the Hume Highway, Mundarlo, about 40km east of Wagga Wagga.

A short time later, police stopped the white Toyota Hiace just south of Tarcutta and spoke to the male driver.

Officers subsequently searched the vehicle and allegedly located almost $280 000 in cash.

The driver, aged 26, was arrested and taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was subjected to a drug test, which allegedly returned a positive indication for methyl amphetamine.

The man, from Queensland, was charged with recklessly deal with proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail and will appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 19 May 2016).

The incident has prompted Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley to warn motorists of the consequences of using the road to undertake unlawful activities.

“If you think you are going to get away with illegal activity on our roads, you can think again, he said.

“The CATCH program targets vehicles suspected of transporting drugs and other illegal contraband.

“Police are out in force, and if you are doing the wrong thing, we will catch up with you.”

Inquiries continue.

Police have officially suspended the search for a man thought to be missing, after his yacht was found adrift and unattended on the state’s north on Tuesday.

At 8am tomorrow (Thursday 19 May 2016), officers attached to Marine Area Command with assistance from Port Stephens Water Police will conduct a recovery search.

Due to conditions of the water, it is unlikely the 48-year-old man was able to survive.

Detectives are continuing with inquiries regarding the boat, named ‘FireFly’, possibly being around Lemon Tree Passage on the morning of Tuesday 17 May 2016.

Officers from Marine Area Command are continuing with investigations.

Police are urging anyone who might have information to contact police from Marine Area Command on 02 93207499.

Police investigating a claim of attempted abduction at Albury yesterday have confirmed that the incident did not occur.

Investigators from Albury Local Area Command have spent many hours trying to determine the veracity of the report.

Officers were initially told between 4.30pm and 4.45pm on Tuesday 17 May 2016, a 17-year-old girl was waiting for a friend in David Street near the intersection of Dean Street when she was grabbed by the male occupant of a green utility.

Investigators have confirmed that the report was false.

They are no longer searching for a green utility or its male driver.

Police have thanked the community and media for their assistance with this matter.

Inquiries into possible offences surrounding the false report continue.

A man has been charged after he allegedly broke into a woman’s home and committed a lewd act.

About 5am on Tuesday 3 May 2016, a 52-year-old woman was in her home on Woodstock Street, Mayfield, when a male person allegedly entered her home.

The man entered the victim’s bedroom, at which time she woke up and saw him.

The victim got up and followed the man to a veranda where he allegedly performed lewd acts towards her, before leaving the premises.

Following ongoing inquiries by officers from Newcastle Local Area Command, a 50-year-old man was arrested at a home in Bull Street, Mayfield.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, commit act of indecency and stalk/intimidate intend to cause physical harm.

The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

Police have arrested seven people, seized drugs and more than $100,000 cash, as part of an ongoing investigation targeting a large-scale drug supply syndicate operating in the NSW Central Hunter region.

Strike Force Yellowbox was established in June 2015 to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine by a drug syndicate operating in the Maitland area.

About 7am yesterday (Tuesday 17 May 2016), Strike Force Yellowbox detectives, with assistance from neighbouring commands, the Dog Unit, Northern Region Operational Support Group and Northern Region Rescue executed a total of 18 search warrants.

The warrants were executed at residential and industrial premises as well as a hotel and storage shed within the Central Hunter Local Area Command (East Maitland, Chisholm, Thornton and Rutherford), and the Port Stephens Local Area Command (Dungog, Raymond Terrace, Heatherbrae).

Three women – aged 23, 49 and 42 – and two men – aged 23 and 44 – were arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.

Three of the warrants were executed in Queensland with assistance from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch.

Two males – aged 29 and 45 – were arrested on the Gold Coast and police are awaiting their extradition today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 29-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug of a large commercial quantity and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

The 45-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug of a large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drugs (x3) and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

The 23-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drugs (x6).
The 42-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis (x5).

The 44-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug (x3), supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug of commercial quantity and participate criminal group.

They have all been refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 49-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (x3). She was released on bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 23-year-old man was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for possess prohibited drug (x2), possession or use a prohibited weapon, deal with property suspected proceeds of crime and goods in custody.

Central Hunter Local Area Command Acting Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Mitchell Dubojski said the arrests are a culmination of a lengthy investigation by detectives.

“Investigators have been involved in numerous inquiries with the objective of shutting down a significant drug supply operation,” Detective Acting Inspector Dubojski said.

“All of the officers involved should be extremely proud of their work.”

“I urge anyone with information about the manufacture or supply of illegal drugs to contact police immediately. Callers should contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

A woman has been charged over the wounding of a man in a domestic incident in the Hunter Valley.
In the early hours of today (Tuesday 17 May 2016), a 38-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman became involved in an altercation in the bedroom of their home on Greta Street, Aberdare.

At the time of the altercation, it is alleged the woman was armed with a knife and a pair of garden shears. It is alleged the woman slashed at the man on several occasions, causing lacerations to his forearm and left leg.

Police and Ambulance Paramedics attended and the man was taken to Cessnock District Hospital for treatment.

The woman was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where she was charged with reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

She was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 18 May 2016).