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.

UPDATE: Man charged with murder of Carly McBride

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter Valley detectives have formally charged a 39-year-old Central Coast man with the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

Investigators from Strike Force Karabi arrested the man at San Remo just after 8am today, who they will allege is Ms McBride's former partner.

Police allege there was a relationship between the man in custody and Ms McBride and jealousy could have been a factor in her death.

The remains of the 31-year-old Belmont mother of two were discovered in August last year in roadside scrub near Scone after extensive investigations in bushland and properties.

Superintendent Steve Clarke says the man in custody is still helping detectives with inquiries and meanwhile, the possible cause of Ms McBride's death has been revealed.

"A post mortem has revealed that she died from blunt force trauma and we will allege she was assaulted to a point where she died. Certainly of significance to investigators, the man in custody here has indicated to us that his former profession was as a boxer and Muay Thai champion. He claims to have a record of 20 wins and no losses. That is significant in this particular investigation."

Police also say they will be conducting another arrest later this week on a man in Lithgow who they say was known to both the man in custody and Ms McBride.

The accused man was refused bail to appear before Wyong Local Court this afternoon.

He's also been charged with unrelated charges pertaining to the destruction by fire of a rental car and weapons offences.

EARLIER:

In what has been a nearly three-year long investigation, police have made a breakthrough arrest this morning in relation to the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

The 31-year old from Belmont disappeared in September 2014 during a visit to Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley.

Strike Force Karabi was formed to investigate her disappearance leading to the search of bushland and properties in the Muswellbrook area, and in August last year, the remains of Ms McBride were found in roadside scrub at Owens Gap on the outskirts of Scone.

After extensive investigations, strike force investigators arrested a 39-year-old man just after 8.00am today at San Remo on the Central Coast.

He's assisting detectives with their inquiries at Wyong Police Station.

Detectives have also executed a search warrant at the 39-year-old man's home nearby at Buff Point.

Carly McBride