🚗 Man Charged Over Alleged Knife Carjacking in Port Macquarie

A 34-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged armed carjacking that occurred in Port Macquarie last Friday.

NSW Police were called to Garden Crescent around 4:20 pm on Friday, January 9, 2026, after reports that a 25-year-old woman sitting in her sedan was allegedly approached by an unknown man. The man reportedly opened her car door, threatened her with a knife, and then drove off in her vehicle. The woman was able to exit the car without physical injury and fled the scene.

Following swift inquiries, police located the stolen sedan unoccupied on Hollingworth Street, Port Macquarie, around 6:25 am on Saturday. The vehicle was subsequently seized for forensic examination.

The breakthrough came early Sunday morning, around 1 am, when officers on proactive patrols in Port Macquarie stopped and spoke with a 34-year-old man. A subsequent search allegedly uncovered keys belonging to the stolen car and clothing believed to be linked to the offence. The man was arrested and taken to Port Macquarie Police Station.

He has since been charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon and disposing of a motor vehicle part (theft of serious indictable offence greater than $5000). He was refused bail to appear before the Bail Division Court 1 yesterday.

The Bail Division is a dedicated virtual court established by the Chief Magistrate of the Local Court to centralise and streamline adult bail matters in regional NSW, which commenced operations from July 7, 2025. This court handles police bail refusals and executed arrest warrants, aiming to improve consistency and efficiency in bail hearings across the state.

The accused was formally refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The charge of robbery armed with an offensive weapon carries significant penalties in NSW, with a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. For offences committed with a 'dangerous weapon,' the maximum can increase to 25 years. While average penalties vary, armed robbery is considered a strictly indictable offence, meaning it must be dealt with in higher courts due to its seriousness.

Vehicle theft, including carjacking incidents, remains a concern, with a Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) report indicating an increase in motor vehicle theft in regional NSW, including the Mid North Coast region, up to March 2023.