A group of off-duty police officers have helped catch a man wanted for two alleged robberies in Newcastle.
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The officers were at a shopping centre at Waratah about midday on Wednesday when they spotted the 26-year-old.
The man was wanted in relation to two hold-ups on the night of May 4.
In the first, the man allegedly entered a business on Nelson Street, Wallsend, about 8.15pm with a woman and threatened an employee before taking cash and fleeing the scene.
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Then, at about 10.30pm at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus, the man allegedly stole a laptop from a 20-year-old woman while his female companion allegedly assaulted her.
The off-duty police who spotted the alleged thief on Wednesday contacted their colleagues from the Newcastle Target Action Group, who arrived on scene and arrested the man.
He was charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and robbery in company.
The man was refused bail and will face Newcastle local court on July 11.
Newcastle City crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Scott Parker 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," he said.
"This shows the great level of teamwork within the Newcastle City Police District throughout all units."
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