Robbery and serious crime squad detectives form Strike Force Rummage to investigate $100,000 Hamilton North Bowling Club heist

The state’s robbery and serious crime squad has formed a strike force to investigate a brazen and violent armed heist at a suburban Newcastle bowling club, where bandits escaped with a huge amount of cash.

Two men dressed in black and armed with knives robbed an employee of the Hamilton North Bowling Club on December 30, 2024. Picture: Google Maps

Specialist detectives from the state’s robbery and serious crime squad have taken over the investigation into a violent armed heist, which netted two knife-wielding bandits more than $100,000 after they tied up an employee and pilfered the safe at a suburban Newcastle bowling club.

Strike Force Rummage has been established to investigate the pre-dawn heist of the Hamilton North Bowling Club on December 30, where a male employee was hospitalised after being assaulted and tied up.

Detectives from the state crime command have taken carriage of the strike force from Newcastle City investigators as they delve deep into the hold-up, including gathering and reviewing closed circuit television from in and around the Boreas Rd premises.

The two bandits, dressed in black and armed with knives, stormed the popular club about 4am on the Monday morning in question and bashed the 44-year-old employee.

He was tied up before the men gathered more than $100,000 from the club’s safe and escaped.

Strike Force Rummage has been established to investigate the armed robbery. Picture: Google Maps

The alarm was raised about 5am and the employee taken to John Hunter Hospital to be treated for minor bruising and swelling to his chest.

A crime scene was established as forensic experts spent hours gathering evidence, which has been sent away for further analysis.

As detectives continue to gather clues in their hunt for the bandits, they have also issued a general appeal to the public for any information about the offence.