20-year-old Cessnock Woman charged in connection to ram raids in Lake Macquarie

• 20-year-old Cessnock woman arrested in connection with ram raids.
• 3 other men are already before the court in relation to the same ram raids
• Strike Force Emirs was established by the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to investigate ram raids on two petrol stations in the Lake Macquarie.
• Do you have a story, email us at info@myhuntervalley.com

A woman will reappear in court today charged after information was uncovered during an investigation into ram raids in the Hunter Region earlier this year.

Strike Force Emirs was established by the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to investigate ram raids on two petrol stations in the Lake Macquarie area in March this year.

In the early hours of Tuesday 3 March 2020, cars were used to force entry into petrol stations in Wyee and Fennell Bay, where cash and cigarettes were stolen.

Attempts were also made to remove an ATM, but they were unsuccessful.

Last month following inquiries, strike force detectives arrested and charged three men – aged 18, 23 and 25 – who remain before the courts.

After uncovering information during the investigation, police arrested a 20-year-old woman at Cessnock Police Station about 10.15am on Wednesday 8 July 2020.

She was charged with steal motor vehicle, aggravated robbery, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and destroy property in company use fire etc.

Police will allege the woman drove a stolen Audi Q5 following a robbery at a Cessnock home, where an 83-year-old man was assaulted. The Audi was later found destroyed by fire at Bellbird Heights.

The woman appeared at Cessnock Local Court the same day, where she was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at the same court today (Wednesday 16 September 2020).

Investigations under Strike Force Emirs are continuing.