Robbery & Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged three men for their alleged involvement in a staged armed robbery at a bowling club in Newcastle, which police will allege was an inside job.
About 5am on Monday 30 December 2024, emergency services were called to a bowling club on Boreus Road, Hamilton North, after reports of an armed robbery.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and were told two men, allegedly carrying knives and dressed in black, entered the club about 4am.
Police were further told two men assaulted a staff member before stealing cash and electronics.
A 44-year-old male employee was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital for treatment.
A crime scene was established and forensically examined before State Crime Command's Robbery & Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Rummage.
Following extensive inquiries, from about 8.20am on Wednesday 19 February 2025, strike force detectives – with assistance from Newcastle City Police District and Raptor Squad – executed four search warrants in Cooks Hill, Beresfield, and Muswellbrook.
At the Cooks Hill address police arrested a 50-year-old man. He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with steal property as clerk/servant.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 20 February 2025).
In Muswellbrook, police arrested a 47-year-old man. He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, where he was charged with enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence, larceny value greater than $15,000, and possess prohibited drug.
The man was refused bail and appeared in Singleton Local Court the same day.
About 12pm yesterday, strike force detectives arrested a 44-year-old man at Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with steal property as clerk/servant, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and knowingly make false/misleading statement.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 March 2025.
Police will allege in court the 44 and 50-year-olds were employees of the club and staged the armed robbery with the 47-year-old man, knowing cash would be kept on premises that night following a poker tournament.
Investigations under Strike Force Rummage continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
