Northern Beaches Police are investigating a series of thefts targeting e-bikes and scooters stored in residential garages across the area.
Police said offenders have been breaking into underground garages and individual units in the early hours of the morning to steal the items.
Police urged residents to ensure garages, storage cages and bikes are securely locked at all times.
Installing CCTV where possible was also recommended, along with fitting trackers to e-bikes and scooters.
Police are further advising owners to record the serial numbers of their e-bikes and scooters and keep photographs on hand, which can assist with identification and recovery if the items are stolen.
Narrabeen man charged over alleged assault of Dee Why convenience store worker
A 20-year-old Narrabeen man has been charged after a convenience store worker was allegedly assaulted at Dee Why.
Police will allege that the man and an unknown second offender entered the store at about 1pm on Thursday, 11 June 2025, and attacked a 22-year-old male worker, leaving him with scratches and bruising.
The pair fled the scene, and the incident was reported to the police. Investigators reviewed video footage of the incident, leading to the identification of the Narrabeen man.
He attended Chatswood Police Station on 18 June, where he was charged with one count of assault under section 61 of the Crimes Act 1900. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Manly Local Court on 28 July.
The second offender remains outstanding. He has been described as a Caucasian man, aged about 30, wearing a black hoodie and black shorts, with a tattoo of cursive writing above his right eyebrow.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dee Why Police Station on 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Cable and copper theft targeting power lines
Police are warning the public to be on the lookout for thieves stealing cable, copper and other metal from overhead power lines, particularly in rural locations.
Offenders are using specialised equipment to cut down overhead wires, causing disruption to power, phone, and internet services.
According to police, some offenders have been posing as utility workers, wearing high-visibility clothing and using vehicles made to look like contractor vehicles. Stolen cable is sometimes hidden in nearby bushland to be collected later.
Police are urging residents to report suspicious activity near power lines, utility poles or manholes, particularly after hours or on weekends, including people wearing high-vis clothing without an apparent reason to be there.
Other signs to watch for include open utility pits or boxes with missing lids, exposed or discarded cable and wire, and workers operating without proper equipment or lighting.
Police also asked the community to report people removing materials from construction sites, sporting grounds or businesses, as well as any suspicious attempts to sell scrap metal or cable.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000). Anyone who sees a fallen or low-hanging power line should call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 and avoid the area.
Residents lose tens of thousands as fraudsters target elderly
Police are investigating three separate scams targeting Northern Beaches residents over recent weeks, with victims in Freshwater, Belrose and Manly losing thousands of dollars or narrowly avoiding loss.
Freshwater
A Freshwater woman in her seventies was contacted by a scammer on 15 June 2025, claiming to be from the “Anti Fraud Squad Team,” who offered to help resolve a fraudulent transaction on her account.
Police will allege the woman was given convincing instructions to hand over $5,000 cash to assist with rectifying the transaction. About 6pm that evening, a man posing as a courier attended her home and she handed him the cash in an envelope.
The scammers called again the following day. The woman contacted her bank and realised she had been scammed. The matter was reported to the bank, and the police are investigating.
Belrose
A Belrose couple in their eighties received a pop-up message on their home computer on 15 June 2025 warning of a virus, along with a contact number for assistance.
The couple called the number and were instructed to provide $9,000. They withdrew the cash from a bank and were preparing to hand it over when the scammers contacted them again, demanding a further $9,000 to “rectify” the issue.
The couple grew suspicious and attended Dee Why Police Station to report the matter in person. They froze their bank accounts and did not lose any money. Police believe the couple’s computer had been infected with malicious software, and the matter remains under investigation.
Manly
A Manly woman in her sixties received a call on 12 June 2025 from a person purporting to be from the Commonwealth Bank, claiming to be assisting with a fraudulent transaction detected on her account. Police believe phone messages sent to the woman during the call were designed to extract her personal information.
The woman was convinced to hand her debit card to a courier who was dispatched to her home while the scammer remained on the phone.
The following day, she discovered that more than $12,000 had been withdrawn from her account. She immediately reported the scam to her bank, which prevented several further withdrawal attempts. The bank and the police are investigating.
