Hunt for crooks who robbed Spar Express at Morpeth and Blackbutt Hotel continues after Lake Macquarie police pursuit

They may have escaped from a chase through Edgeworth and Barnsley, but it is what they have left in a stolen car found at Awaba which may prove crucial in police nabbing the robbery suspects.

Young thugs suspected of being responsible for a wave of violence across the Hunter, including an armed robbery where a Morpeth shopkeeper was stabbed, appear to have temporarily slipped a fast-closing police net.

Three suspects escaped from a daring police pursuit through south-western Lake Macquarie overnight on Thursday, less than 24 hours after Morpeth grocer Jason Bull survived a stabbing attack inside his shop.

Mr Bull, 47, returned home on Friday after undergoing emergency surgery for the single wound to his stomach, with surgeons believing a last-minute swivel may have saved the shopkeeper from badly damaging his liver and intestines.

Shopkeeper Jason Bull was stabbed in the abdomen during an armed robbery of the Spar Express at Morpeth. Picture: Google Maps.

“Just an update on Jason, he is fine thank goodness. A flesh wound, not to serious. I will probably give him more grief than his wound,’’ wife Sharon wrote on Facebook.

“Thank you to everyone for all your love and support. ‘’

The raid on the Bulls’ shop SPAR Express, which occurred about 5.15am on Thursday, came tow days after the same crew of young thugs surprised a cleaner outside the Blackbutt Hotel at New Lambton.

The cleaner was threatened with a knife and robbed of his wallet before the trio unsuccessfully attempted to pry open an ATM inside the popular pub.

A cleaner at the Blackbutt Hotel at New Lambton was targeted on Tuesday. Picture: Google Maps.

The same group, which CCTV vision suggests could be as young as teenagers, is also believed responsible for an attempted break and enter at Jesmond on Tuesday and a series of car thefts in the past week.

A high-powered Mercedes was stolen and used in the Blackbutt Hotel robbery before another car was used in the Morpeth holdup.

Both cars have been recovered by police.

However, it is the evidence inside a Subaru which was dumped at Awaba overnight Thursday which may see their crime wave crash.

It was dumped after the Subaru driver was able to escape from a police pursuit which had begun in Edgeworth and continued through Barnsley and south-west of Speers Point.

Police discovered the discarded car not long after the occupants had fled.

It is understood significant pieces of evidence have been retrieved from the car, which will also undergo extensive forensic testing.

Strike Force Conge has been established to investigate the armed robberies and is being led by investigators from the State Crime Command’s robbery and serious crime squad.