A man has been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of a boat worth $280,000 and a ute valued at $135,000.
At 4.30am on Saturday 14 March 2020, a black Ford F150 and a Super G23 boat were stolen from outside a house at Swansea Heads, Lake Macquarie.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation and identified the vehicle as being associated with fraud offences that were committed in the Newcastle suburb of Jesmond.
Later the same day, the truck and boat were recovered at Caves Beach.
About 5.00am today (Friday 27 March 2020), Lake Macquarie Police received information that two men had been disturbed allegedly breaking into a parked car at Catherine Hill Bay and had driven off in a blue Holden Astra sedan.
Police attended and located three men trying to fix a flat tyre, on a vehicle parked next to a Holden Astra at Flowers Drive, Catherine Hill Bay.
A search of the men discovered items police believe to be stolen or otherwise illegally obtained.
The three men were arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
In relation to the Swansea Heads theft and frauds, a 19-year-old Tingira Heights man was charged with take and drive conveyance and dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception. He was also charged with goods in custody and possessing house breaking implements arising from his arrest today.
He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 27 March 2020). He has since been granted conditional bail, to re-appear at the same Court on Thursday 4 June 2020.
The two other men aged 24 and 28 were released, pending further inquiries.