Cessnock Hardware Store Shoplifting Leads to Major Break-In Arrest

In a significant development, a 38-year-old man has been apprehended and charged after a thorough investigation into a string of break-ins spanning the Hunter Region over the past three months. In July of 2023, law enforcement authorities launched “Strike Force Cared,” spearheaded by the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District Property & Drug Crime Team. This dedicated task force was convened to delve into a series of break-ins that had been plaguing supermarkets in the Port Stephens-Hunter, Newcastle City, and Hunter Valley Police Districts, with strong suspicions of a connection. Yesterday, on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at approximately 3 pm, police received a distress...