Police are investigating after a woman dies following a car crash in Warners Bay this afternoon.

About 1.25pm (Wednesday 1 July 2015), a car was travelling on Hillsborough Road near Crockett Street, when it has crashed into a pole.

Emergency services responded and Lake Macquarie Local Area Command officers attended.

The passenger of the car, a woman aged 73, was taken to John Hunter Hospital but died on arrival.

The driver, a man believed to be aged in his 70’s, has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment and mandatory blood and urine testing.

An investigation has commenced and officers are appealing for anyone with information about the crash to call Crime Stoppers.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Firearms Squad detectives have arrested a woman for firearm possession after investigations into the alleged theft of guns by two men impersonating police officers in the Hunter region last year.

About 8.30am on Wednesday 29 October 2014, a property owner at Clarence Town was approached by two men at his home who purported to be plain clothes police officers.

Detectives were told two revolvers were stolen from the premises, with those firearms recovered during a search warrant at Mayfield East the following day.

Three men, aged 28, 29 and 32, remain before the court on related charges.

Yesterday morning (Monday 29 June 2015), Firearms Squad detectives arrested a 30-year-old woman at Waratah Police Station.

She was charged with two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol and granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 August 2015.

Police have charged a man and woman following multiple alleged break-ins in Newcastle City.

During the last month police from Newcastle Local Area Command have been investigating multiple break-ins around Newcastle.

About10pm (Friday 26 June 2015), officers have attended Maude Street, Mayfield, and spoke to a man and woman sitting in a car.

Police searched the car and allegedly located over 45 items that had been stolen from multiple homes.

The man, aged 33, and the woman, aged 40, were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The woman was charged with three counts of aggravated break and enter, four counts of larceny, and enter vehicle without consent.

The man was charged with larceny, enter vehicle without consent, break enter steal and aggravated break enter and steal.

They were both refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 27 June 2015).

Police have been conducting random drug testing this week in regional areas that’s revealed alarming trends amongst NSW drivers as Operation Saturation continues across the state.

Operation Saturation – a high-visibility campaign focusing on driving down the road toll – was launched on Tuesday 9 June 2015 and will continue until Monday 6 July 2015.

NSW Police are focusing on high-risk driving offences such as speeding and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol to reduce the number of fatal crashes on the state’s roads.

As part of this ongoing operation, police conducted random drug testing of drivers within regional areas including Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Kempsey, Mudgee, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Central Hunter and Newcastle.

The following results were recorded during the targeted operation:

• In the Port Macquarie and Wauchope areas, police conducted 480 random drug tests, 53 of which returned a positive result.
• In Kempsey police conducted 170 random drug tests, 29 of which returned a positive result.
• In Mudgee police conducted125 random drug tests, 21 of which returned a positive result.
• In Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Central Hunter police conducted 971 drug tests, 202 of which returned a positive result. In addition 225 speed infringements were issued with 36 traffic charges and 285 other infringements issued.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, said the results have revealed an alarming trend amongst some NSW road users.

“These figures reflect the dangerous attitudes of some drivers and no doubt they’re of serious concern to other road users,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

“153 positive returns translates to a ratio of one in seven tests that are positive at the roadside. In comparison, the ratio of positive breath tests is one in 288.

“Those that test positive run the risk of losing their driver’s licence, their ability to get to work, and their ability to look after their families.

“Safe driving requires good judgement and sharp concentration. You also need to react quickly to changing situations on the road; all of which are dangerously compromised while under the influence of drugs.

“The message is simple; taking drugs of any kind before you get behind the wheel puts you at greater risk of injuring yourself, your loved ones, or other road users.

“With more and more drug testing units being rolled out across the state, if you choose to do the wrong thing you can expect to be caught.

“Police will continue to conduct road safety operations right throughout NSW to ensure that those who choose to ignore the road rules, like drug drivers, are dealt with accordingly,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

Operation Saturation, a joint operation between police and the NSW Centre for Road Safety, will continue to target risky behavior, including speeding and drink and drug-driving.

Police are urging all motorists to observe proper occupant restraints, manage fatigue and display responsible driver behaviour.

A man has been charged with drug offences after a vehicle stop in Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 11am (Friday 26 June 2015), Northern Region Highway Patrol officers directed a car to stop at the intersection of Oakdale Road and Pacific Highway, Gateshead.

The vehicle pulled over as directed and police spoke to the occupants. The vehicle was also searched.

Police allegedly located 2.4 grams of methylamphetamine (“Ice”) and cash.

The passenger, a 22-year-old man, was arrested and taken to Charlestown Police Station.

Police investigations led to a search warrant being executed on a relative’s home in Macquarie Hills where four replica-style firearms were seized.

The 22-year-old man was charged with possess prohibited drug and was granted conditional bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 22 July 2015.

Inquiries are continuing and further charges are expected regarding the replica firearms seized.

Police from four local area commands within the Hunter region are joining forces in an operation to combat property theft, drug supply and other offences.

Operation Quad LAC will involve police from Lake Macquarie, Newcastle City, Port Stephens and Central Hunter Special Operations Groups.

The operation will run over the next two weekends, and involve the four commands sharing intelligence and resources to conduct targeted, high-visibility patrols.

Specifically, Operation Quad LAC will:

• Target offenders and known locations;
• Target offenders with outstanding warrants and court attendance notices;
• Conduct compliance checks on offenders with current bail conditions; and
• Perform mobile random breath testing.

The crimes to be targeted by Operation Quad LAC include property offences, such as break-and-enters. Officers will also have drug suppliers in their sights.

“Throughout this operation, we will be undertaking numerous proactive policing strategies with our colleagues within the Newcastle City, Port Stephens and Central Hunter commands,” Lake Macquarie Local Area commander, Superintendent Brett Greentree, said.

“Crime knows no boundaries, so it makes perfect sense for us to share resources in this way,” he said.

“Our other vital partnership is with the local communities in these areas, and as always, we ask that anyone with information about crime to come forward and report it to police,” Supt Greentree said.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man committed an indecent act in Newcastle this morning.

About 9am (Wednesday 24 June 2015), a 16-year-old girl was walking on Lawson Street, just before Everton Street, when a car has pulled up near her.

The girl has looked into the car at the driver, a man, who was committing an indecent act in the VX Holden Commodore.

Becoming afraid the girl crossed the road and approached men who were working, and told them what had occurred.

Police were notified and officers from Newcastle Local Area Command attended and patrolled the location but were unable to locate the man or the vehicle.

An investigation was commenced and police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or may have information that may assist with their inquiries are urged to call Newcastle Police Station 02 4926 6599 or Crime Stoppers.

Investigators would also like to speak to a man who may be able to assist, he was described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged between 20 and 30, of medium build, with dark hair and was wearing grey jeans, checker boxer shorts and a black shirt.

The car was described as a white VX Holden Commodore, with a partial QLD registration starting with 749.

Police are investigating following a fatal single vehicle crash last night.

About 6pm (Tuesday 23 June 2015), a blue Honda Jazz was travelling along Wharf Road near Wickham Road, and has left the roadway crashing into a fence.

Emergency services were called and commenced treating the driver, a 61year-old woman, who was later taken to John Hunter Hospital, but had died on arrival.

No one else was injured during the incident.

Officers attached to Newcastle Local Area Command attended and established a crime scene.

As investigations continue, anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to police is urged to come forward and contact police via Crime Stoppers.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Police have charged a man with reckless wounding after an incident in the Hunter region overnight.

Emergency services were called to a home in Kookaburra Parade, Woodbury, about 11.15pm yesterday (Saturday 20 June 2015).

Police have been told a 27-year-old man who lives at the residence went outside to investigate a disturbance.

He was confronted by a number of men, who allegedly attacked him with a glass bottle.

The man was taken to Maitland Hospital, where he received treatment for a non-life-threatening head wound.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command arrested a 21-year-old Fletcher man at the scene.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with reckless wounding and affray.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear in Maitland Local Court on Monday 20 July 2015.

The investigation continues.

Three people have been charged following investigations into an armed robbery at Freeman’s Waterhole in the Lake Macquarie area last week.

Shortly after 1am on Thursday 11 June 2015, two men and a woman entered a service station on Freeman’s Drive armed with a shortened firearm and a hammer and allegedly threatened the staff member demanding cash and cigarettes.

The male staff member locked himself in an office while one of the men climbed the counter and allegedly stole cash from the register. All three then ran from the store.

Police were called and an investigation was launched by detectives from Lake Macquarie culminating in the arrest and charging of three people.

About 3pm on Wednesday 16 June 2015, a 28-year-old man from Bolton Point was arrested after he was pulled over by police while driving his car. He was taken to Lake Macquarie Police Station where he was charged with robbery whilst armed.

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on 26 August, 2015.

Later that afternoon, (16 June, 2015) a 27-year-old woman was arrested at premises in Toronto by detectives from Lake Macquarie. She was charged with robbery whilst armed.

She will appear at Newcastle Local Court on 26 August, 2015.

On Thursday 17 June 2015, Lake Macquarie detectives executed a search warrant at a premises in Blackhall Park where police allegedly located a shortened firearm.

Following the search of that premises, police arrested at 36-year-old man at a premises in Fassifern by Lake Macquarie detectives. He was charged with robbery whilst armed and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (19 June 2015).