CCTV of ‘tradies’ who stole $30k from Junction Hotel in afternoon heist linked to more pub thefts

It competes as one of the brashest minutes in criminal history – the 60-second dash for cash by hi-vis thieves during a busy pub’s afternoon rush hour. See the images of the cunning crooks.

They are the would-be tradies who tricked an entire pub into believing they were busy on the tools – sauntering into one of Newcastle’s swankiest pubs as the afternoon rush hour kicked in and walking out with tens of thousands of dollars in cash.

Their plan was as plain as their confidence was brimming – dress up in high-visibility gear, wear a mask, look like you belong and don’t muck about.

Their target was a cash dispenser inside the Junction Hotel’s poker machine room – the estimated $30,000 sitting inside the machine meaning the trickster tradies earnt about $500 per second for their minute’s work.

One of the thieves enters the Junction Hotel through a fire exit. Picture: Supplied

A second hi-vis suspect inside the popular pub. Picture: Supplied

The July 4 theft was so brazen even an employee sitting in the poker machine room failed to raise an eyebrow until it was too late.

And their luck continued even after they left the pub when the dispenser – still full of cash – fell off the back of a suspected stolen Ford Raptor just around the corner.

Two of the wannabe tradies help themselves to the cash dispenser. Picture: Supplied.

But onlookers barely stopped to check on them, later telling police they thought it was a group of tradies who had temporarily lost a toolbox off the back of a ute before stopping and throwing it back on.

However, the cleverness of the heist is now being tempered by possible links to a series of other pub thefts across the Hunter, where masked bandits have been helping themselves to cigarette machines after breaking in after hours.

CCTV of the thieves dressed up as tradies as they walk out with up to $30,000 in a cash dispenser from the Junction Hotel on July 4. Picture: Supplied.

There are at least five similar thefts since June at pubs and clubs across Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens.

But it is the extraordinary job on the Junction Hotel which has surprised local law enforcement.

It was about 4.30pm when the first of the tradesmen-looking trio entered the popular up-market pub via a fire exit and walked confidently through the gaming area

A second suspect, also wearing a mask, is just as brash as he walks in moments later, pushing a troller directly towards his mate at the cash dispenser.

The Junction Hotel at The Junction, Newcastle, was targeted by cunning and brazen thieves on July 4. Picture: Google Maps.

A third hi-vis remains with the open fire door, keeping a lookout and the path clear.

The pair inside then simply lift the dispenser onto the trolley, never make eye contact with any patrons, and arrogantly walk it outside.

The dispenser was found several weeks later on the banks of the Hunter River.

Newcastle City detectives have taken over the investigation and were looking at links between it and the other heists across the greater Hunter.

Masked men stole a cigarette machine from the Mattara Hotel at Charlestown on June 17. Picture: NSW Police.

It includes the overnight targeting of the Lambton Park Hotel and Tanilba Bay Golf Club on the same day, the Mattara Hotel at Charlestown on June 17 and the Hawks Nest Golf Club on June 19.

Each time, the thieves have targeted freestanding cigarette machines, taking only a few minutes to get them out of the pubs.

CCTV showing the thieves inside the Lambton Park Hotel on July 4.

Thieves also used a trolley to steal the cigarette machine from the Lambton Park Hotel.

On at least one occasion – at Tanilba Bay – the thieves smashed a hole through an adjoining wall to get access to the club and the cigarette machine.

Footage of the Lamton Park Hotel has also been released, showing the masked men helping themselves to the cigarette machine.