Whitebridge and Boolaroo medical centres targeted in alleged identity fraud scam

A man has been arrested at Broadmeadow and computer hard drives allegedly seized after two Lake Macquarie medical centres were targeted in 10 days.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested at Broadmeadow over the break ins at medical centres at Whitebridge and Boolaroo in May, 2023. Picture: NSW Police.

A man has been arrested after two Lake Macquarie medical centres were broken into and their computers targeted as part of an alleged identity theft scam.

Police said a Whitebridge medical centre was targeted on May 11 and a Boolaroo business broken into on May 21, both between the hours of 3am and 4am.

“The offender clearly targeted computer storage devices,” Lake Macquarie police said in a statement on social media.

Lake Macquarie detectives, who were assisted by experts from the state’s cybercrime squad, executed a search warrant on Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow on Thursday.

“During the search warrant police located computer mediums (hard drives, card printers) used to make fraudulent identity documents, cash and identity documents in multiple different names,” the statement said.

Police allege computer equipment was targeted in the break-ins at medical centres at Whitebridge and Boolaroo in May, 2023. Picture: NSW Police.

“A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of break, enter and steal, knowingly deal in the proceeds of crime and make or possess equipment for making false documents.”

Police will allege a computer was stolen from both medical centres but remains unclear whether they had been accessed.

The man was bail refused to the Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

Police said investigations were continuing and more charges were expected.