A man has been charged following an alleged armed robbery and carjackings in the Hunter.
About 12.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 29 March 2022), a female employee was inside a bottle shop on Cooper Street, Cessnock, when a man entered the store and allegedly threatened her with a knife.
The man took a sum of cash before fleeing the store.
In the carpark outside the bottle shop, the man approached a 68-year-old man and allegedly threatened him with a knife, demanding access to his car.
The 68-year-old refused, and the man left the location in another unknown vehicle.
About 10 minutes later, an 83-year-old man was at a service station on Allandale Street, Kearsley, when it's alleged a man pushed past him and attempted to enter his vehicle.
A struggle ensued between the pair, before the man drove from the scene in the elderly man's red sedan.
The 83-year-old was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however he did not require hospital treatment.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were called to both incidents and commenced inquiries.
Additional resources from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, Operation Utah officers and Traffic and Highway Patrol observed the red sedan on the M1 Motorway at John Renshaw Drive, Beresfield, about 1.10pm.
The vehicle continued south before being stopped at a U-turn bay on the M1 Motorway at Cameron Park; no police pursuit was initiated.
The driver – a 39-year-old man – was arrested without incident.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon, aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon and aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it – inflict actual bodily harm.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 30 March 2022).
