Police investigate links between violent Blackbutt Hotel and Spar Express dawn robberies

A strike force has been set up to investigate early morning armed robberies after Morpeth shopkeeper Jason Bull was stabbed in the abdomen.

A strike force is investigating whether a group of young thugs are combing Hunter streets looking for early morning targets after two violent armed robberies in three days, including one where a Morpeth shopkeeper was stabbed.

Spar Express supermarket owner Jason Bull needed emergency surgery for a wound to his abdomen after the 47-year-old was stabbed with an unknown weapon when he confronted three men who were attempting to help themselves to cash tills at his Morpeth grocery store about 5.15am on Thursday.

The attack came two days after a cleaner was targeted more than 30km away at the Blackbutt Hotel at New Lambton when three masked men threatened him with a knife before stealing cash from his wallet and attempting to gain entry to an ATM inside the popular pub.

The cleaner was able to avoid injury during the 4am heist after the suspects fled when they were told more cleaners were about to arrive.

The violence has prompted the State Crime Command’s robbery and serious crime squad detectives to establish Strike Force Conge to investigate links between the two armed robberies, several car thefts and an attempted break-in to the Jesmond post office.

Mr Bull had just opened up and was out the back when he walked in to the main grocery area to find the three men at the cash registers.

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

“One of the men struck the employee with an unknown object. All three fled the scene a short time later in a white sedan,’’ police said in a statement.

“The injured man suffered a wound to his abdomen and was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.’’

Mr Bull is understood to be in a stable condition, with wife Sharon taking to the shop’s Facebook page to keep customers abreast of the incident.

“Just so we are all on the same page I thought it best I put this post out,’’ Ms Bull wrote on Thursday morning.

“Just after 5am this morning three guys robbed the store, Jason had never seen them before.

“One of them stabbed him in the stomach just near his belly button, apparently not to bad though. (I haven’t seen him as yet).

“He is at the John Hunter and now in surgery. I’ve spoken to him and he’s fine and doesn’t want anyone to worry.

“I will keep you all informed of his progress. Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages.

“I will also keep you informed of when the store will reopen.”

A cleaner was threatened with a knife by three masked men outside the Blackbutt Hotel on Tuesday. Google street view.

The attack has significant similarities with the Blackbutt Hotel robbery on Tuesday morning, with three men also reported to be involved and armed with a knife.

It is understood a high-performance Mercedes suspected of being used in that robbery has been recovered after being dumped.

The car will be forensically analysed.

Investigators will also look at the bizarre attempted break-in at the Jesmond post office on Tuesday morning.

Detectives have asked that anyone with information – or dashcam footage at New Lambton and Morpeth around the time of the robberies – to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.