Two men have been charged following a three-day joy ride in the Hunter Region this week.
Around 5am on Wednesday 5 July 2023, officers from Newcastle City Police District observed a white Hyundai Tucson on Harriet Street, Waratah, driving in a manner dangerous.
Checks on the vehicle revealed it was reported stolen during a break and enter at a Cameron Park address on Tuesday 4 July 2023.
Around 4.30am on Thursday 6 July 2023, the stolen vehicle was sighted by police travelling at speeds up to 180km/h on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga.
A pursuit was initiated by officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command; however, was terminated due to safety concerns.
Around 7.30am that morning (Thursday 6 July 2023), police spotted SUV on Croudace Bay Road, Belmont, before it collided into a police vehicle and fled the scene.
A second pursuit was initiated before later being terminated.
The Hyundai was located shortly afterwards at Gari Street in Charlestown, where police were told two men were seen abandoning the SUV and running into nearby bushland.
With the assistance of the dog unit, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District located and arrested two men at Park Street, Charlestown, before taking them to Belmont Police Station.
An 18-year-old man was charged with take & drive conveyance without consent of owner and a 22-year-old man was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
Both men were also charged with breach of bail and subsequently refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Friday 7 July 2023.
