Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command have charged a teenager over more than 20 break-ins and larceny-related offences allegedly committed over the past four years.

Police will allege a 17-year-old male was involved in 23 incidents, including numerous break-ins at both residential and commercial properties, between Saturday 5 March 2011 and Sunday 10 May this year.

The break-ins allegedly occurred at a number of different premises in High Street Maitland; as well as Rutherford, Beresfield, Woodberry and Metford.

Following ongoing investigations by Central Hunter police – with assistance from forensic specialists, intelligence analysts and officers from the Target Action Group – a search warrant was executed at a home on New England Highway at Rutherford on Wednesday (20 May 2015) last week.

A 17-year-old male was arrested at the home and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was later charged with two counts of break, enter and steal as well as receiving stolen property.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Children’s Court on Friday 12 June 2015.

After further inquiries, the 17-year-old male was arrested at the Rutherford property shortly before 9am today (Tuesday 26 May 2015).

He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with the following additional offences:

• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner;

• Larceny (two counts);

• Break, enter and steal (13 counts);

• Break and enter with intent to steal (three counts); and,

• Break, enter and destroy property (two counts).

The male has been refused bail and is now due to appear Children’s Court tomorrow (Wednesday 27 May 2015).

A police strike force investigating an aggravated break and enter upon a shopping centre in the state’s Hunter region in March have released an image of a utility linked to the incident.

Strike Force Kirk, comprising detectives from the Property Crime Squad and Newcastle City Local Area Command, was established to investigate the incident which occurred at a shopping centre in Elermore Vale.

Police were told that in the early hours of Sunday 15 March 2015, two people forced entry to the shopping centre and stole an amount of cash.

Strike force detectives are appealing for information from the public. In particular, they would like to locate a utility believed to been travelling in the Elermore Vale, Jewells and Redhead areas in the early hours of that morning.

It is described as a white-coloured late model Toyota Hilux single cab utility with damage to the front near side quarter panel area.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the vehicle or who has information about the aggravated break and enter.

Police have charged a pair of teenage boys after two international students were allegedly robbed with a samurai sword in Newcastle yesterday.

About 8.30pm (Saturday 23 May 2015), two teenage boys – both aged 16 – allegedly approached the two university students – aged 21 and 23 – in the Warabrook Railway Station car park.

One of teens allegedly threatened the two students with a 30cm-bladed samurai sword and demanded they hand over their possessions. The students complied and handed over cash and their mobile phones. The teens then allegedly ran from the area.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command were called and an investigation was commenced.

A short time later, police were patrolling Maitland Road at Mayfield West when they sighted the two teens. One of the teens allegedly ran from police but was apprehended a short distance away.

Both teens were arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station. Each was charged with two counts of robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon.

The teens were refused bail to appear before a children’s court today (Sunday 24 May 2015).

A man has been charged following investigations into alleged drug supply in the Holmesville area, near Lake Macquarie.

About 3.30pm yesterday (Thursday 21 May 2015), police attended a home on George Street, Holmesville, and arrested a 42-year-old man.

Following his arrest, police executed a search warrant at the home, where they allegedly located a number of plants and drugs believed to be cannabis, as well as hydroponics equipment.

The drugs and equipment were seized and will undergo forensic examinations.

The man was taken to Charlestown Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and cultivate prohibited plant.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 10 June 2015.

Inquiries are continuing after a woman died in a three-vehicle crash at Beresfield this afternoon (Thursday 21 May 2015).

About 4.10pm emergency services were called to John Renshaw Drive.

When they arrived, police and NSW Ambulance Paramedics found a 23-year-old woman had died. She was the driver and sole occupant of a Holden Commodore.

After being assessed by NSW Ambulance Paramedics at the scene, the female driver of a station wagon was taken to John Hunter Hospital. She is receiving further treatment for suspected leg and internal injuries

A male, who was also travelling in the station wagon, sustained minor injuries

The occupants of the third vehicle only sustained minor injuries.

For the latest on road conditions, motorists should check www.livetraffic.com

The missing 14-year-old girl from Mayfield has been located in Wallsend at 2.25pm today safe and well.

Police from Newcastle City would like to thank the public for their assistance.

Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident at a junior soccer match at Merewether last week.

About 10.30am on Saturday 16 May 2015, a man was allegedly behaving in an offensive manner towards other members of the public over a parking issue at Myamblah Crescent Oval.

An off-duty police officer asked the man to cease his behaviour and leave the area. The officer was then allegedly assaulted by the man.

The officer identified himself as a serving member of the NSW Police Force.

The man allegedly continued to assault the police officer before driving away.

About 7.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 20 May 2015), Newcastle City detectives attended a house in Broadmeadow and arrested a 34-year-old man.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with three offences:

– Common assault;

– Assault officer in execution of duty;

– Affray.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 11 June 2015.

The investigation is ongoing. Police would like to speak with any witnesses to the incident and urge them to contact Newcastle Detectives on (02) 4929 0999 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for assistance from the community to locate a teenage girl missing from Mayfield.

Tara Hipwell, aged 14, was last seen leaving her high school in Mayfield at 3.20pm (Thursday 14 May 2015), she did not arrive at her Waratah home.

Police were notified and Newcastle Local Area Command commenced a search for Tara.

Officers have conducted numerous inquiries and searches however she has not been located.

Due to her age, police hold concerns for her safety and welfare.

Tara is described as being 178cm tall, medium build, light brown hair, blue eyes and has braces.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance to locate the whereabouts of Tara and urge anyone with information to contact Waratah Police Station on 02 4926 6599 or Newcastle Police Station on 02 4929 0999.

Police are appealing for public assistance after rocks were left on rail lines near Newcastle recently.

Just after 5pm on Sunday (17 May 2015), a freight train struck a large rock while travelling on the main line between Wyee and Warnervale railway stations.

The train was not damaged.

A short time later, a passenger train struck rocks on the same tracks and sustained significant damage.

No passengers were injured; however the train was rendered inoperable.

About 5.30pm on Monday (18 May 2015), another passenger train struck rocks on a different track between Wyee and Warnervale stations.

The train was also damaged and rendered inoperable.

Police were alerted and officers from the Police Transport Command are investigating all incidents.

It’s believed the rocks were deliberately placed on the tracks.

Investigators are appealing for anyone with information, or who may have seen suspicious activity on the railway lines, to come forward.

Police have appealed to the community for assistance as they continue with their inquiries into a fatal single motor vehicle crash at Harden four months ago.

About 2pm on Monday 19 January 2015, a 38-year-old woman was travelling with her three daughters aged 15, 12 and nine years old from Sydney to Young.

As their silver blue 2005 Nissan Pulsar sedan travelled north on Moppity Road at Harden and appears to have left the road and struck a tree.

The driver was trapped but the three children, who all suffered minor injuries were able to extricate themselves and alight from the vehicle. The children then walked some distance along Moppity Road where they flagged down a passing motorist who alerted emergency services.

Narissa Fox was treated at the scene and conveyed by air to Canberra Hospital to undergo emergency surgery. Sadly she never regained consciousness.

Investigators from Cootamundra Local Area Command are continuing with their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash and are appealing to the community for witnesses to come forward.

Initially the crash was believed to only involve the Nissan however subsequent information has indicated the possibility that a second vehicle was involved.

Police are urging anyone with information about the crash, particularly if they have previously contacted police, or with new information to come forward.

Callers are urged to contact Cootamundra Police Station on 6942 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and a reward of up to $1000 is payable for information which leads to an arrest.