Officers charged one man, aged 47, with three counts each of larceny and trespass early on Monday morning following a police operation on the Hunter Water Corporation land at Tomago where large amounts of copper wire was allegedly stolen.

A second man, a 38 year old, was arrested from his Anna Bay home later on Monday and charged with two counts each of larceny, trespass and goods in custody.

Ausgrid reported the theft of $80,000 worth of live copper powerlines from Masonite Road between Heatherbrae and Tomago at the end of October.

Twelve spans, or about 1 kilometre, of copper powerlines weighing a combined 2100 kilograms had been cut down and taken. 

It was the second time between September and October that powerlines at Tomago had been targeted, and one in a spate of similar incidents across the Hunter and Lake Macquarie.

Police launched an operation into the matter after about 940kg of copper wire was taken from the Hunter Water Corporation land between November 14 and 27.

It is alleged the Tomago site had been accessed by 4WDs and the copper wire taken from the ground.

The matter was reported to Port-Hunter Police and an investigation was started.

Police will allege that about 1am on Monday two vehicles entered the enclosed Hunter Water lands and were preparing to remove copper wire from the site.

Officers, who were conducting an operation at the site, arrested the 47-year-old man.

He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged.

Following further inquiries, the 38-year-old man was arrested at his home in Anna Bay.

Both men were given conditional bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on December 17.