A multi-agency operation was held at Manly’s North Head this morning, 6 July 2026, as the search for a missing man continues on the Northern Beaches.
Matthew Bowen, aged 54, was last seen on West Promenade, Manly, about 8pm on Friday 29 May 2026.
When he was unable to be located or contacted, officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command were notified at 12.30pm on Friday 12 June 2026 and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Police and his family have concerns for his welfare as he lives with a medical condition.
Matthew is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, with red hair, a grey beard and brown eyes. Matthew also has a distinctive tattoo on his right shoulder.
As at midday today Police confirm Matthew has still not been located.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Manly Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Teen boy winched to safety after cliff fall
A teenage boy who fell more than five metres down the rocks between Queenscliff and Freshwater on Friday, 3 July was winched to safety and was found to be concious and stable, NSW Ambulance confirmed at the time. The boy has been transported to Royal North Shore Hospital with injuries to his head, back and legs.
Collaroy Plateau resident rattled by attempted break in by teens
A Collaroy Plateau resident says she was left rattled after security camera footage showed a group of young boys attempting to break into her home in the early hours of 20 May 2026, after first rifling through her car which was parked on the street.
Jac Payne told Manly Observer she had no idea anything had happened until the next day.
“It was obvious as soon as I opened my car door that the contents of the car had been rifled through but there was no damage and nothing was taken,” Payne said.
It wasn’t until her husband reviewed their home security footage that they realised what had happened. At around 12.30am, five boys, who Payne estimated to be around 14 or 15 years old, went through her car before jumping her back fence and attempting to get into the house.
“They really tried exceptionally hard, they tried every possible point to get into my home,” she said.
According to Payne, none of the locked doors or windows were forced or damaged. Police told her these offenders deliberately avoid making any noise, instead looking for unlocked doors or windows to slip into the home to steal car keys.
After reporting the incident to police, Payne said they told her they had a good idea of who was responsible. She said she was also told a second car was broken into in Narrabeen on the same night.
Payne said she was told by police that young people on the Northern Beaches are allegedly being recruited by organisers from outside the area, in the belief that courts treat young offenders more leniently, and that offenders are allegedly paid per stolen vehicle. This is a story our team is hearing repeatedly.
Payne said the incident had left her rattled.
“I don’t think you get away from the discomfort of the feeling that your private property, you know, your home, your sanctuary was almost breached,” she said.
“Even if nothing’s happened, it’s a really uncomfortable feeling.”
Manly Observer has previously reported on young people breaking into homes on the Northern Beaches to steal cars. We’ve linked these articles below:
Armed intruders targeting Northern Beaches homes with luxury cars in the driveway
Tracking technology to the rescue
Three Northern Beaches residents have recovered their own stolen vehicles in the space of a fortnight, using AirTags, AirPods and a car’s own tracking app.
Between 5pm on Saturday 20 June and 9am the next morning, a Toyota SUV was stolen from Quinlan Parade, Manly Vale, after police reported the owner left the keys inside the vehicle.
However, an AirTag left in the car meant the owner was able to activate the tracker and followed the stolen car to Tulich Avenue, Dee Why, where the SUV was found parked and undamaged, minus the keys.
Over in Allambie Heights, a BYD four-wheel-drive electric vehicle was stolen from a property on Nyrang Road, sometime between 9pm on Saturday 20 June and 9am the following day.
The owner used the car’s connected app to track it to Grover Avenue, Cromer, and recovered the car roughly three hours after discovering it missing.
Police attended and confirmed nothing had been taken from the vehicle other than the key.
Police said built-in GPS tracking on EVs is increasingly acting as a deterrent to thieves, as well as a recovery tool.
In Collaroy Plateau, a Ford Ranger four-wheel-drive was stolen from outside the owner’s home on Veterans Parade, between 8pm on Thursday 18 June and 7:30am the next day.
The owner had left a pair of AirPods in the car, and used them to trace the vehicle to Grafton Crescent, Dee Why.
He recovered the car himself and reported the theft to police, who will now forensically examine the vehicle.
