Earlier this year, officers from the Lake Macquarie Proactive Crime Team commenced an investigation following several break, enter and steal offences they believed were linked.
About 5am yesterday (Tuesday 26 March 2024), police were notified that a Chevrolet Silverado utility was allegedly stolen from a Cams Wharf address.
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A short time later, the ute was located alight at Belmont South, with the fire extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters.
General Duties police – assisted by the Dog Unit and Operation UTAH – established a perimeter around a nearby golf course and conducted further inquiries.
Following an extensive search, a 30-year-old man and 20-year-old woman were arrested in bushland before being taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with 35 offences:
Nine counts of shoplifting
Five counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
Four counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception
Three counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen
Three counts of drive conveyance taken without consent of owner
Three counts of break and enter house etc steal
Two counts of destroy etc property in company use fire etc
Two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
Receive property-theft=serious indictable offence
Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
Destroy or damage property, and
Larceny.
The woman was charged with seven offences:
Two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception
Break and enter house etc steal
Destroy or damage property
Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
Damage property by fire, and
Larceny.
Both were refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court today (Wednesday 27 March 2024).