BY DAKOTA TAIT
Police are confident they're getting a handle on a youth crime spree across the Hunter, where cars were stolen and the thefts posted to the social media platform TikTok.
244 charges have been laid and 22 offenders arrested as part of efforts by Strike Force Baste, and another 20 charges are expected to be laid.
One offender, who often removed windows from vehicles, faces a swathe of charges, including over fraud.
Port Stephens-Hunter District Commander Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey described their work as a "crowning achievement".
"The message out of that is we don't give up," he said. "We will come and arrest you for what you've done."
"Please lock your motor vehicles. Don't leave valuables in your motor vehicles.
"Lock your homes, and when you go to sleep at night, don't leave your keys out in open areas in case someone does break in. Put them in a drawer. Make it a little bit harder on the crooks."
