Hunter Car Stealing Syndicate Smashed

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have smashed a long time running car-stealing racket in the Hunter.

Strike Force Luchetti has been investigating a syndicate of vehicle theft throughout the Central Hunter and Lake Macquarie Local Area Commands since September where vehicles were stolen and parts of vehicles were exchanged for drugs.

Following extensive investigations, an 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday.

He was charged with two counts of steal from motor vehicle, trespass, goods in custody, self administer prohibited drug and fraud.

The 18-year-old was granted conditional bail and will appear at Toronto Local Court next Tuesday (December 12, 2017).

Strike Force Luchetti investigations continue.

Teenage Boy Flown To Sydney After Quad Bike Accident

BY IAN CROUCH

A 16-year-old boy is lucky to alive after a quad bike accident on Blacksmiths Beach.

The boy was riding on the sand dunes behind Belmont Golf Course when his bike rolled over just after 5.00pm yesterday.

He was winched off the beach by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter and flown to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital with suspected spinal injuries.

However, police say his injuries were only minor and he's due to be released from hospital this morning.

Investigations into the accident are continuing.

Wangi Wangi Crime Spree

BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are investigating a late night crime wave around Wangi Wangi.

A number of local businesses, the post office and the RSL have been targeted in the crime spree, with shop front windows smashed and hundreds of dollars taken from cash registers.

The owners of a cafe in Watkins Road say the front glass door was smashed and the business ransacked, leaving them with a damage bill of $3,500.

Police are checking CCTV footage in bid to identify who's responsible.