Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a man in a unit fire this morning.

Just after 12.40am (Sunday 12 July 2015), emergency services were called to a unit on Glebe Road after reports smoke was coming from inside the premises.

Fire & Rescue NSW officers forced entry to the unit and extinguished a small fire.

On gaining entry, fire officers located a 64-year-old man unconscious in a bedroom.

Fire officers commenced CPR but were unable to save the man.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command, including detectives and crime scene were also in attendance.

At this early stage the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

Police will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner outlining the full circumstances surrounding the death.

Police have now identified a man whose body was discovered in water at Newcastle on Friday.

Emergency services were called to Susan Gilmore Beach about 8am on Friday 10 July 2015, after a member of the public found the body of the 68-year-old man from Cooks Hill.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and retrieved the man’s body and commenced investigations.

The death is not believed to be suspicious but a report is being prepared for the Coroner.

Police are currently in the process of notifying the man’s next of kin.

Investigators would like to thank the public for their assistance in identifying the man.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a bicycle crash that has left a man in hospital with serious injuries.

About 3.30am (Saturday 11 July 2015), a taxi driver came across a bicycle rider lying on the footpath on Glebe Road, about 150m west of Stewart Avenue.

The 30-year-old rider was found bleeding and was unable to recall how the incident occurred.

The taxi driver contacted emergency services who attended a short time later.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital with multiple facial fractures.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command also attended and commenced inquiries.

Initial investigations suggest the man was cycling in an easterly direction before colliding with the gutter and was ejected over the handlebars into a tree.

It is believed the rider was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

Officers are investigating how the man came to be ejected from the bicycle and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact Newcastle Police on (02) 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Police are appealing for information following a robbery in the Newcastle area.

Just after 9pm yesterday (Friday 10 July 2015), a 17-year-old boy was walking along Victoria Street, Tighes Hill, when a man and a woman crossed from the opposite side of the road and approached him.

The couple pushed the teen and threatened him with knives before the boy handed over his wallet and cash and ran from the location.

The incident was reported to police who commenced investigations.

Investigators from Newcastle City Local Area Command would like to speak to two people who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The man is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander in appearance, aged between 30 and 35 years old, about 175cm tall and a thin build. He has missing front teeth.

The woman is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged between 25 and 30 years old, about 152cm and a large build. The woman had short, brown hair. She was wearing long, dark pants and a black cardigan.

Police are attempting to identify a man whose body was discovered in water at Newcastle.

Emergency services were called to Susan Gilmore Beach about 8am today (Friday 10 July 2015) after a member of the public found the body.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and retrieved the man’s body.

While the investigation is in its infancy, his death is not believed to be suspicious.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance as they attempt to identify the man.

He’s believed to be aged in his 50s or 60s, with a slim build and a red beard.

Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been arrested and charged over five stealing offences committed at jewellers in the Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah and Jesmond areas.

About 10am yesterday (Thursday 9 July 2015), police were called to a jewellery store in a shopping centre at Charlestown, when staff recognised a man police wished to talk to in relation to the theft of jewellery from stores in Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah and Jesmond.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended and arrested the 36-year-old Narwee man. He was taken to Charlestown Police Station where he was subsequently charged with five counts of steal from person relating to the following incidents:

– Theft of a bracelet from a jewellers in Gorokan on 25 March 2015
– Theft of a chain from a jewellers in Charlestown on 19 June 2015
– Theft of a necklet from a jewellers in Jesmond on 20 June 2015
– Theft of a bracelet from a pawnbrokers in Wyong on 29 June 2015
– Theft of a bracelet from a jewellers in Jesmond on 8 July 2015

The man was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidation stemming from an alleged incident in Wyong on 5 July 2015.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (10 July 2015).

Police are re-appealing for witnesses following a fatal plane crash near Cessnock yesterday.

About 4.30pm (Wednesday 8 July 2015), emergency services were called to Sawyers Gully after reports a light plane had crashed into dense bushland.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and located the plane well-alight.

The fire was extinguished by the NSW Rural Fire Service before the body of the 55-year-old pilot was located inside.

No one else was injured during the incident.

A crime scene has been established and is being examined by specialist forensic officers and investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today (Thursday 9 July 2015).

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

An investigation is underway following a fatal plane crash near Cessnock.

Emergency services were called to Sawyers Gully about 4.30pm today (Wednesday 8 July 2015), after reports a light plane had crashed into dense bushland.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and located the plane well-alight.

The fire was extinguished before the body of the pilot was located inside.

The man has not been formally identified.

No one else was injured.

A crime scene has been established and will be examined by specialist forensic officers.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted in the state’s Hunter region.

A revocation of parole warrant has been issued for 56-year-old Stephen Edward Saari.

Saari was on parole for the murder of a man at Rathmines in 2000; however, allegedly failed to comply with the conditions.

Officers from the Central Hunter Local Area Command are appealing for public assistance as they attempt to locate him.

Saari is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 172cm tall, with a medium build, brown hair and green/hazel eyes.

Anyone who sees him or believes they know his whereabouts is urged to contact Triple Zero ‘000’ immediately.

More than 20 people have been arrested during an operation involving four local area commands in the Hunter region.

Operation Quad LAC ran over past two weekends (June 27 and 28 2015, and July 3 and 4 2015).

During the operation, four commands – Lake Macquarie, Newcastle City, Port Stephens and Central Hunter – shared intelligence and resources to conduct targeted, high-visibility patrols.

Specifically, Operation Quad LAC:

– Targeted offenders and known locations;

– Targeted offenders with outstanding warrants and court attendance notices;

– Conducted compliance checks on offenders with current bail conditions; and

– Performed mobile random breath testing.

A total of 23 people were arrested during the operation. They have been charged for offences ranging from drug possession and supply to steal motor vehicle, resist police, malicious damage, and possession of a knife in a public place.

In one incident, police attached to Operation Quad LAC detected a Holden Barina allegedly exceeding the speed limit on Maitland Road at Mayfield about 12.15am on Monday 29 June 2015.

Following two pursuits with police, the driver – a 25-year-old man – stopped the car in Newcastle East and ran into Newcastle Harbour.

Police negotiators engaged with the man for several hours, before he emerged from the water shortly after 6am. He has been charged with a number of traffic offences.

Other results from Operation Quad LAC include:

– Approximately 250 random breath tests conducted, with three drink-driving offences detected;

– 25 intelligence reports gathered;

– 110 people searched;

– 40 vehicles searched;

– 21 drug detections;

– 20 move-on directions given;

– Nine infringement notices issued.