Five arrested following break and enter, pursuits - Operation Soteria
Thursday, 08 May 2025 03:15:49 PM
Five people have been arrested following alleged property and traffic offences in Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley earlier this week.
About 11.15pm on Monday 5 May 2025, an SUV and utility were allegedly stolen from a home on Quinn Street, Catherine Hill Bay.
The vehicles were allegedly involved in pursuits in the Lake Macquarie area a short time later; however, both pursuits were terminated.
About 1.15am on Tuesday 6 May 2025, the ute was located on Ocean Street, Dudley, and a 16-year-old boy was arrested nearby.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with eight offences,
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (two counts)
- Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse
- Aggravated enter dwelling with intent (two counts)
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, and
- Obtain property by deception.
He was refused bail to appear before a children's court on Tuesday 6 May 2025, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Monday 12 May 2025.
About 4.35pm on Tuesday 6 May 2025, officers saw the SUV on Awaba Road, Toronto, and several further pursuits were engaged, but were again terminated shortly after. A police vehicle allegedly rammed during one pursuit.
Further inquiries were conducted to locate the SUV and, about 5pm, it was seen on Lake Road, Kearsley.
A pursuit was initiated, continuing to Kurri Kurri where the SUV allegedly collided with two vehicles, causing minor damage.
The driver of one of the vehicles, a 63-year-old woman, was taken to Maitland Hospital for assessment.
About 5.45pm, officers located the vehicle abandoned on Turnbull Street, Edgeworth.
Following further inquiries, officers attended a nearby home where they arrested a 22-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman, and two boys aged 16.
The man was charged with 11 offences,
- Drive conveyance taken without consent of owner
- Police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously
- Not give particulars to other driver (four counts)
- Fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury
- Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention etc
- Never licensed person drive vehicle on road - prior offence
- Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and
- Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
He was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 7 May 2025), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 21 May 2025.
The woman was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 27 May 2025.
One of the boys was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and was granted strict conditional bail to appear before a children's court on Monday 26 May 2025.
The other boy will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.