Police believe two 22-year-old men and a 25-year-old man were involved in multiple thefts from motor vehicles across the Central Hunter after they were allegedly caught with tools used to break into homes and cars.

The men were arrested after police received reports of three people acting suspiciously in Rutherford early on Tuesday morning.

Police found the men near the intersection of Weblands Street and Alexander Avenue about 12.40pm.

Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector George Radmore said police investigated further.

They searched the group and allegedly found tools including screwdrivers, gloves, a shifting spanner and a torch.

Police allegedly found more tools in a vehicle search as well as an item of clothing connected to another incident in East Maitland.

The East Maitland incident, where a vehicle was broken into, occurred one week prior. In this incident, credit cards were stolen from the vehicle and later used at a Cessnock business.

All three men were taken to Maitland Police Station and charged.

The charges included theft from motor vehicle, obtain benefit by deception (fraud), possession of house breaking implements and drug possession.

They will all face Maitland Local Court in April.

The arrests came after several reports of cars being broken into in Maitland’s western suburbs on a local community Facebook page.

The incidents act as a reminder for residents to lock their vehicles and not use them as a place to store valuable belongings.