Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have released CCTV as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged armed robbery and assault in Newcastle in 2024.
About 4am on Wednesday 28 February 2024, a 50-year-old man, who was the manager of a hotel on Union Street, Cooks Hill, was threatened and detained by two unknown men armed with a machete and baseball bat before being forced to open the door to the hotel.
At the same time a 68-year-old man, employed as a cleaner for the hotel, was allegedly assaulted by a third unknown man waiting outside in a vehicle.
The three unknown men left the location a short time later in the vehicle with an amount of cash from the hotel.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and found the 68-year-old man unconscious.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before he was taken to hospital in a serious condition, while the 50-year-old man was uninjured.
A crime scene was established by local police before detectives from State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crimes Squad commenced an investigation under Strike Force Krichauff.
Two men – aged 32 and 37 – have been charged and remain before the courts.
As the investigation continues, detectives have released images of a vehicle and a man who may be able to assist with inquiries.
The vehicle is described as a white Mercedes Benz A190 hatchback, with damage on the rear left side passenger door.
The man is described as wearing a hooded jumper, baseball cap, tracksuit pants and black shoes with a distinctive white mark or stain on the right shoe.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
