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.

Police appeal for help to find Cessnock Pokies Bandit

BY JARROD MELMETH

Detectives believe a string of break-ins and armed hold-ups across the Central Hunter between October 13th and 26th last month are linked.

The first incident occurred between midnight and 3am on Thursday, October 13, when a club in Cessnock was broken into and money was taken from a number of gaming machines.

The same club was targeted between 11pm and midnight on Sunday, October 16, with money taken from gaming machines.

About 6:40am on Wednesday, October 19, a man entered a Metro service station on Wollombi Road armed with a home-made fake firearm and threatened the attendant. The man left the store without taking any items and was seen entering a waiting vehicle which was driven towards Cessnock.

The man struck again, about 2:20am Saturday, October 22 and again just after 4am on Wednesday, October 26, when entry was forced to a club in Bellbird. A number of gaming machines had coins taken from them.

Tariq Al Issawi from NSW Police says detectives are seeking public assistance to identify a man who on each occasion concealed his identity with a hooded jumper.

"Anyone with information to assist police should call Maitland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."

CCTV images of the man.