Tradies linked to serial pub thefts

Police detectives are investigating a series of thefts at a minimum of four pubs across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, and Port Stephens.

The brazen “tradies” who entered a busy pub and walked out with a cash machine with $30,000 are now being investigating for further robberies.

The men entered the Junction Hotel during afternoon trade on 4 July and walked out less than a minute later with the cash machine.

The crime was so slick not even the employees noticed, despite the men being masked.

One man entered via fire escape at 4.30 in the afternoon, while a second man walked in moments later pushing a trolley and a third kept the door open.

They then casually walked out.

The crime is now being linked to other robberies of pubs and clubs which have netted the thieves thousands of dollars in cigarettes.

At least four licensed premises have been targeted by masked thieves in the past month and detectives are investigating links between the daytime theft at the Junction Hotel and the night time robberies of the Lambton Park Hotel and Tanilba Bay Golf Club on the same day, the Mattara Hotel at Charlestown on 17 June and the Hawks Nest Golf Club on 19 June.

Cigarette machines have been the main target and only taken minutes to remove from the venues.

On one occasion thieves smashed a hole through an adjoining wall to Tanilba Bay top gain access to the machines.

Police suspect they are using stolen utilities or SUVs to make their getaway. 

It is hoped images taken from the Mattara Hotel robbery at Lake Macquarie will create a lead, while Newcastle City detectives investigating the Lambton Park Hotel theft and Port Stephens police investigating the Tanilba Bay theft the same night are working hard for a breakthrough.

Any information should be forwarded to Newcastle City detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Irit Jackson, 26^th July 2022