A POLICE crackdown in stealing on the sand in the Hunter has landed one man with a court date and another as part of an ongoing investigation.
Police have seized a video camera and charged another man with 16 offences as part of a blitz on increased reports of theft on Newcastle beaches.
Newcastle City Police District officers issued a warning earlier this month after several items were stolen from people visiting areas including Newcastle beach.
A Mayfield man, 46, has been charged with two counts of stealing and 14 of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
Police will allege the man took a key from an unattended bag on January 3 before locating the matching car and stealing valuables including two mobile phones and a wallet from inside.
It is alleged he then used a credit card to conduct a number of fraudulent purchases in Newcastle.
He was refused bail to face court on February 3.
Separately, police on Tuesday received reports of a man taking photos of women using a hidden camera.
"Witnesses reported to police that the male had a camera hidden within a baseball cap and was taking photos or video of females within close distances," police said.
Officers located a 40-year-old man about 5.50pm and spoke to him, ultimately seizing a camera.
The man was allowed to leave but Newcastle police said investigations, including analysis of the content of the camera, are ongoing.
On Wednesday this week, Newcastle City Police's Target Action Group and Crime Management Unit ran a covert operation on the city's beaches in the hopes of preventing crime and inappropriate behaviour.
Police were pleased to report that no untoward behaviour was detected nor any criminal offences identified. In addition, there were no reports of thefts from these beaches," Newcastle police said in a statement.
"Despite this excellent result, we remind beach goers to be mindful of leaving their valuables unattended."
Despite this excellent result, we remind beachgoers to be mindful of leaving their valuables unattended.
Separately, police have charged a woman with attempting to smuggle contraband into a Hunter prison.
Hunter Valley Police District confirmed the 26-year-old woman was arrested at Cessnock on Saturday after allegedly attempting to smuggle tobacco into Cessnock Correctional Centre.
"The detection was made by a drug dog used for screening visitors to the location," police said.
