Police are appealing for information after a child was approached by a man in a vehicle near Lake Macquarie yesterday afternoon.

About 3.20pm (Tuesday 29 March 2016), a 14-year-old boy caught his regular school bus to Cams Wharf Road, Cams Wharf, where he began walking home via Rafferty Drive.

While walking along the roadway, a white Toyota Hilux dual cab approached him and pulled over beside him.

The vehicle also had a fibreglass canopy over the tray with a small logo printed on the side.

Police have been told the male driver attempted to speak with the boy, before he ran toward a nearby bush track away from the road.

When he arrived home, he told his mother what happened and she contacted police.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command launched an investigation into the incident and would now like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 40s, with shoulder-length brown scruffy hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt with writing across the front.

Anyone who knows the man’s identity, or has any information that could assist investigators, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/

Three people have been arrested after police seized drugs, cash, and a replica pistol following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Lake Macquarie area.

Over the past few weeks, investigators from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command Property Crime Team have been investigating a number of steal from motor vehicle offences and subsequent ‘tap and go’ frauds.

As a result of their inquiries, just before 2pm today (Tuesday 29 March 2016), police observed a vehicle on Willow Road, Gateshead, where they arrested two women – aged 35 and 33.

Following their arrest, a search warrant was executed at a home on Willow Road, Gateshead – where they seized a replica pistol.

At the property, police arrested a 35-year-old man for unrelated offences. During a subsequent search of the man, police allegedly found and seized cash, and two bags of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine.

All three were taken to Belmont Police Station.

The man was charged with supply prohibited drug and possess firearm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 20 April 2016.

The older woman was charged with 15 counts of fraud and two counts of having goods in custody suspected of being stolen.

She was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 30 March 2016).

The younger woman was charged with two counts of fraud and granted conditional bail, to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

Meanwhile, inquiries continue and further charges are likely.

Two men have been charged after allegedly damaging property, assaulting a police officer, and offensive behaviour while naked, in Port Macquarie yesterday.

About 6.10am (Sunday 27 March 2016), officers attached to Mid North Coast Local Area Command received several reports of two men allegedly causing damage to property in the Port Macquarie CBD.

Officers attended and arrested one of the men, aged 20; however, the second man allegedly fled the scene.

The man in custody allegedly pushed a police officer to the ground and attempted to flee the scene, before he was arrested a short distance away.

Further inquiries led police to arrest the second man, aged 19, at a motel on Clarence Street, and two mobile phones were seized.

Both men were taken to Port Macquarie Police Station.

It will be alleged both men maliciously damaged a number of vehicles and boom gates at a caravan park on Munster Street, approached a number of women while naked, and the younger man committed a number of acts on various objects on Clarence Street, while naked.

The older man has been charged with assault police, escape custody, goods in custody, and offensive language.

The younger man has been charged with three counts of act of indecency, three counts of malicious damage, and goods in custody.

Both men were granted conditional bail, to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

The estimated cost of the damage to the property is up to $30,000.

A man has died after an altercation during a break-in at a home in Newcastle yesterday.

About 3.30am (Saturday 26 March 2016), police were called to Cleary Street, Hamilton, following reports of three men fighting.

Police were told a 34-year-old man had broken into a home before an altercation broke out and he was detained by two men, aged 33 and 32.

Shortly after, officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended, the 34-year-old man lost consciousness.

He was taken by Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

He died about 11.30am today (Sunday 27 March 2016), after his life support was switched off.
Detectives will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.
A 33-year-old man has previously been charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm.

Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been charged after an incident in Newcastle which has left another man in a critical condition in hospital.

About 3.30am today (Saturday 26 March 2016), police were called to attend a street in Hamilton following reports of three males fighting.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and located a 34-year-old man being detained by two men.

The 34-year-old was found to be unresponsive. Ambulance Paramedics conveyed him to John Hunter Hospital where he is in a critical condition.

One of the men who were detaining him, aged 33, was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he was treated for facial injuries.

He was then taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 21 April 2016.

The other man, aged 32, who was assisting in detaining the 34-year-old, has not been charged.

Investigations suggest the 34-year-old man had committed a break, enter and steal offence at the 33-year-old man’s home prior to the altercation.

A woman has been charged following a fire that destroyed a home in Toronto today.

About 11.15am (Friday 25 March 2016), emergency services were called to Shelley Street, following reports of a fire.

They arrived to find the home well alight, with officers from NSW Fire & Rescue extinguishing the blaze.

Police spoke to a 34-year-old female occupant nearby. She was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, where she was charged with destroy/damage property by fire.

The woman was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court tomorrow (Saturday 26 March 2016).

A man will appear in court next month charged with drug offences in the Lake Macquarie area.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command commenced an investigation in January 2016 in relation to drug supply in the local area.

As a result of their inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant at a home on Tennent Road, Mount Hutton, just before 8am yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2016).

Officers allegedly located and seized methylamphetamine, cannabis, cannabis seeds and cash.

Following further inquiries, investigators attended a home on Balemo Cres, Windale, where they located and seized a Holden ute and a Quintrex boat, both of which had been reported stolen.

A 60-year-old man was arrested at the Mount Hutton home and taken to Belmont Police Station.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, and deal with property suspected proceeds of crime.

He has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 13 April 2016.

Inquiries are continuing.

A man has been charged after allegedly filming a woman on a Newcastle bound train last week.

About 10.30am on Thursday (17 March 2016), a 22-year-old woman boarded a train on the Hunter Line from Central Railway Station.

About 1pm that afternoon, she awoke to find a male passenger allegedly filming up her clothing.

She confronted the man and he left the train at Cardiff Railway Station.

The woman later reported the matter to officers from the Police Transport Command.

Following further inquiries, about 11am today (Wednesday 23 March 2016), officers attended a home on Mitchell Close, Cessnock, where they arrested a 30-year-old man.

A phone and computer hard drives were also seized from the property, which will now be examined by specialist officers.

The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station, where he was charged with filming persons private parts without consent and offensive conduct.

He has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Toronto Local Court on Wednesday 20 April 2016.

Police have charged a man in relation to the armed robbery of a registered club in the Lake Macquarie area in 2012.

Strike Force Lockwood was established by the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to investigate a number of robberies and break and enters in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle areas in 2012.

That included the armed robbery of a club at Wangi Wangi on 18 November 2012.

Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 45-year-old man at Claymore, in Sydney’s south-west, yesterday (Monday 21 March 2016).

It will be alleged the man was at the location contrary to the conditions of an apprehended violence order.

He was taken to Macquarie Fields Police Station where he was charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon and two counts of breach AVO.

He was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court yesterday and remains in custody to reappear on Wednesday 18 May 2016.

He is the second man to be charged over the incident.