newy.com.au – A 29-year-old man has been refused bail after being charged over alleged damage to electric vehicle charging stations across Newcastle and the Central Coast last month.
Police began investigating after several EV charging stations were allegedly damaged between Friday, June 12 and Tuesday, June 30.
Charging stations at Newcastle, Hamilton, Kotara, Wallsend, Swansea, Warners Bay, Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace, Tuggerah, Erina and Gosford were among the locations affected.
Following extensive inquiries, officers from Newcastle City Police District executed a search warrant at a home on Hexham Street, Kahibah, on Friday, July 10.
Police allege they found and seized 17 EV charging handles, or plugs, along with cutting tools, a taser and several large bags of stripped cables during the search. A vehicle allegedly used in the incidents was also seized.
The man was arrested at the home and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with 10 counts of stealing, 11 counts of destroying or damaging property, possessing a prohibited drug, supplying a prohibited drug, possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, driving while his licence was suspended, and disposing of property theft relating to a serious indictable offence.
He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Saturday, July 11.
