Five people have been charged after allegedly breaking in to a Hunter Valley winery last night, caught trying to cart out several boxes of wine.
Responding to a burglar alarm, set-off inside a Hunter Street business in Muswellbrook at around 6.20pm, police found two cars parked outside with multiple boxes of wine nearby.
They then heard voices and saw torch lights coming from inside the Hunter Wine Services building.
After entering, officers found a man in the barrel room, and arrested the 27-year-old on the spot.
He was taken outside where a further three people – a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 23 and 33 – were also arrested.
Following inquiries, officers arrested a fifth person, a 22-year-old man, just before 9.30pm at a fast food restaurant in Muswellbrook.
All five were charged with aggravated break, enter and steal, enter enclosed lands, and malicious damage.
They will appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on October 26.
