Three men have been charged following an investigation into alleged robberies of bottle shops in Muswellbrook last week.
About 7.45pm last Friday, 3 July 2026, a group of men allegedly entered a bottle shop on Rutherford Road and threatened an employee with a hammer before stealing alcohol. Police allege the same group then entered a bottle shop on Sydney Street, threatening an employee with a knife, before entering a third store on Bridge Street and threatening a staff member. The group allegedly left the scene in a silver ute loaded with cases of beer, spirits and pre-mixed drinks.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established crime scenes at all three locations and began inquiries. About 8am on Sunday, 5 July 2026, police located the ute at a home on Sydney Street, Muswellbrook, where a crime scene was established and the vehicle seized for forensic testing. An 18-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, where he was charged with four offences, including two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon as an accessory after the fact, robbery in company as an accessory after the fact, and failing to disclose the identity of a driver or passenger. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Monday, where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
On Monday morning, search warrants were executed at a home in Moobi and two homes in Scone, where police located and seized a hammer, knife, clothing and alcohol. Two men, aged 18 and 27, were arrested following the searches and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, where they were each charged with two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon and robbery in company. Both men were refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 today.
Inquiries into the incidents remain ongoing.
