A man is due to appear in court charged after three cars, cash, cigarettes and personal property were stolen across the Hunter and Port Stephens areas yesterday, NSW Police say.
Police from Port Stephens and Central Hunter Local Area Commands were investigating the armed robbery of a service station at Tarro about 12.15am today, where a man allegedly threatened staff and stole cash and cigarettes.
The man left in a car which had been reported stolen. It was found on fire on Lemon Tree Passage Road at Mallabula, about 2am.
Shortly before 6am, police received information about a break and enter on a home in Diggers Drive at Tanilba Bay, where a handbag and a hatchback were allegedly stolen.
Inquiries were ongoing when police were alerted to the theft of cash from a resort in Nelson Bay about 8am, then a break-in on a home in Tomaree Street where a third car was allegedly stolen.
Patrols continued in the area and about 6pm a man was arrested at Cormorant Road, Kooragang Island.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with 12 offences:
• Robbery
• Damage property by fire
• Break and enter dwelling with intent to steal
• Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-people there (two counts)
• Robbery armed with an offensive weapon
• Larceny
• Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
• Possess prohibited drug
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen
• Enter enclosed land, and
• Licence expired.
The 25-year-old man was refused bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court tomorrow.
