The tight-knit local community will rally around the family who lost their home in a terrifying incident where a man went on a bulldozer rampage in the NSW Lake Macquarie region.
A 48-year-old man will face court on Tuesday on 17 charges after allegedly stealing a bulldozer and completely flattening a home and four cars in Teralba on Monday morning, forcing three people inside to run for their lives.
Police say the family were lucky to escape and that a neighbour who helped them escape will be recommended for a bravery award.
City of Lake Macquarie mayor Jodie Harrison said local residents are in shock.
"There is a fair bit of carnage," she told Network Seven on Tuesday.
"There's a fair bit of shock amongst the local neighbours and friends of the people who have lost their home."
Ms Harrison has spoken with the family and says the local agencies will provide them with the support needed.
A senior police officer has described the suburban scene as looking "like a bomb had gone off".
Lake Macquarie Local Area Command Inspector David Matthews praised the next door neighbour and the two initial attending police officers for their outstanding job during the early morning incident.
"I will be referring the neighbour and the two officers to the NSW police force recommending that they receive some form of commendation," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Police will allege the 48-year-old man was only stopped when a police officer managed to smash through the window of the locked bulldozer cabin.
The officer then emptied an entire can of pepper spray into the cabin before hitting an emergency stop button to bring the bulldozer to a halt.
The man has been charged with 17 offences including destroying property with intent to endanger life and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday morning.
Share
