Hunter region: Police claim COVID crooks take $50k from small businesses in series of raids
Police claim a group of crooks have preyed on dozens of family-run Hunter businesses — already battling a loss of trade due to coronavirus fears and restrictions — in overnight raids which have allegedly netted over $50,000 in cash and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
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Police claim a group of coronavirus crooks have preyed on dozens of family-run businesses in overnight raids which have netted over $50,000 in cash and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
The Newcastle News can reveal a cross-command investigation by four Hunter police districts will see the man who police will alleged is the organiser of the commercial break-and-enters hit with charges relating to 26 different burglaries as police continue to investigate another 14 thefts from small businesses.
The raids – most at night while mum-and-dad stores were already battling a loss of trade because of COVID-19 fears and restrictions – occurred between January 30 and March 23.
Police claim the suspects used stolen cars – and later a motorcycle – as their getaway vehicles and simply smashed their way through front doors.
It will be alleged they specifically targeted safes and cash registers, leaving a trail of destruction in their crime-spree wake.
“With the pandemic just hitting, we will allege they went around and specifically targeted these small businesses,’’ acting Lake Macquarie crime manager Detective Inspector Steve Benson said.
“They were only interested in commercial break and enters on small businesses, and many of those businesses were already hurting because of the pandemic.’’
Police will allege the gang became more and more prolific and began targeting multiple businesses across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland and the Coalfields on the same night.
The first multiple burglary occurred on February 10, targeting the Sanctum cafe in Cooks Hill and New Burger Co at Newcastle West in a 70-minute window.
On March 8, they turned their attention to the wine country, hitting Binnorie Dairy and Emerson’s Restaurant at Lovedale in just 10 minutes.
Police claim three days later was their busiest night.
After targeting Moes cafe at Stockland Glendale just before 1am, they headed north to break into Australia Post at Beresfield as well as Dominos Pizza and Village Coffee, both at Fletcher, in less than half an hour.
Later that night, they turned their attention to KFC at Thornton. And on March 16, the Home Interior and Peninsula at Nelson Bay was targeted in 30 minutes before the thieves travelled back to The Junction and broke into Grill’d some 90 minutes later.
“We will allege their modus operandi was similar in most, if not all the break and enters,’’
Detective Inspector Benson said.
“The time, the method of entry, what they were targeting, what they did once inside the premises, and what they did and didn’t take.’’
But the investigation could also have ramifications for other aspiring criminals, with the successful co-operation of specialist investigators and intelligence analysts across the four police districts – Lake Macquarie, Newcastle City, Port Stephens-Hunter and Hunter Valley.
Officers from each district’s proactive teams – as well as highly-regarded analysts - were able to identify similar burglaries on commercial premises and include them in one significant brief of evidence.
“The message is investigators do not stop at the [police district] borders,’’ Detective Inspector Benson said.
“I think some criminals think if they move around then they will not be linked.
“This investigation shows we can track them anywhere.’’
Investigators are set to charge the alleged organiser Joshua Shaun Raymond Fahey, 30, when he faces Newcastle Local Court on Thursday on unrelated matters.
Included in the fresh charges will be 26 counts of aggravated break, enter and steal in company, numerous traffic offences and one count of larceny.
POLICE’S ALLEGED BREAK AND ENTER TIMELINE:
30/1/20 - Burger Urge, Glendale at 10.30pm
7/2/20 – Franky’s Noodles, Carrington at 6am
10/2/20 - Sanctum cafe, Cooks Hill at 4.30am
10/2/20 - Newy Burger Co, Newcastle at 5.40am
20/2/20 – The Edwards Bar, Newcastle West at 10.45pm
27/2/20 – Subway, Mount Hutton at 5.13am
27/2/20 – Rashays, Greenhills at 6.15am
8/3/20 – Binnorie Dairy, Lovedale at 5.50am
8/3/20 - Emerson’s Restaurant, Lovedale at 6am
11/3/20 - Moes Cafe, Stockland Glendale at 12.56am
11/3/20 - Australia Post, Beresfield at 4.20am
11/3/20 - Domino’s Pizza, Fletcher at 4.35am
11/3/20 – Village Coffee, Fletcher after 4.35am
11/3/20 - KFC, Thornton at 10.30pm
12/3/20 - Jax Tyres, Greenhills at 5.55am
15/3/20 - Table 1 Espresso, Warners Bay at 3.55am
15/3/20 - Lenas Cafe, Warners Bay at 4am
16/3/20 - The Home Interior, Nelson Bay at 4am
16/3/20 - Peninsula, Nelson Bay at 4.29am
16/3/20 - Grill’d, The Junction at 6am
19/3/20 - Grill’d, Charlestown Square at 5.27am
19/3/20 - Crust Pizza, Warners Bay at 4.30am
20/3/20 - Ground Control Chippery, Warners Bay at 4.53am
20/3/20 - Oporto Chicken, Gateshead at 10.30pm
23/3/20 - Crust Pizza, Charlestown at 3.18am
23/3/20 - Rascals, Charlestown at 4.20am