A man has been charged in relation to two separate alleged robbery offences earlier this month.
About 8.15pm on Saturday 4 May 2019, a male employee was in a business on Nelson St, Wallsend, when a man and a woman entered the shop.
Police will allege a 26-year-old man threatened the employee with an unknown object before taking a sum of cash and fleeing the scene.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called a short time later and established a crime scene.
About 10.30pm that same night, a 20-year-old female was at a university campus at Callaghan, when police allege the same man and woman approached her.
She was allegedly assaulted by the female, while the man stole her laptop before the pair fled the scene.
The 20-year-old contacted university security who then contacted police.
Following extensive inquiries, about midday yesterday (Wednesday 15 May 2019), a 26-year-old man was spotted by a group of off-duty officers at a shopping centre in Waratah.
They alerted police from the Newcastle Target Action Group who arrived and arrested the man.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and robbery in company.
He was refused bail at Newcastle Local Court today, to face the same court on Thursday 11 July 2019.
Newcastle City Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Scott Parker has praised the work of both on and off-duty officers.
“These off-duty officers were spending time with their families, but the role of a police officer never switches off. This shows the great level of teamwork within the Newcastle City Police District throughout all units.”
Inquiries continue.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or . Information is treated in strict confidence.
