What do 12 Georgio Armani watches, methamphetamine, a Lady Gaga perfume, baby monitors, cigarettes and a packet of sweet chilli chips have in common?
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Hunter police have connected them all to an alleged crime spree throughout Maitland and Cessnock in the past month.
James John Jarrett, of Branxton, has been charged in relation to the numerous alleged incidents, which culminated in his arrest in Branxton on Monday.
It began with a credit card which police seized after they stopped and searched the 36-year-old in Paxton on October 9.
Detectives allege that the credit card did not belong to him.
Mr Jarrett was released while police conducted further inquiries, which resulted in officers discovering that the credit card had been used to buy flavoured milk, a packet of chips, cigarettes and fuel from a service station in the early hours of October 9.
Acting on that information, police caught up with Mr Jarrett again at a Branxton home on Monday.
After the officers arrived at the house, police allege he ran from the property and jumped several residential fences before he was caught and arrested.
Police claim to have seized a small resealable bag containing what they allege was methamphetamine and a pair of women’s sunglasses after searching Mr Jarrett at the scene.
As inquiries continued, police made connections between Mr Jarrett and other alleged incidents around the Hunter.
They claim he was involved in a shoplifting offence from Priceline Rutherford on October 2 where a Lady Gaga brand perfume was stolen, as well as incidents at Baby Bunting Rutherford on September 14 and 22 involving the theft of a number of baby video monitors.
Police believe Mr Jarrett was also connected to the theft of 12 luxury Georgio Armani watches worth a total of $5000 from David Jones Green Hills.
Two other people have also been arrested in relation to that incident, which is alleged to have occurred on October 10.
Mr Jarrett was charged with fraud, driving while unlicensed, possession of a prohibited drug (methamphetamine) shoplifting and dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
He was refused bail in Maitland Local Court on Monday to appear in court again on November 29.
Port Stephens-Hunter acting crime manager Detective Sergeant Mitch Dubojski said police inquiries into the matter were still continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist with police inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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