A Collaroy Plateau resident has woken to find their car gone — the latest in a string of vehicle thefts putting the suburb back on edge.
Police are investigating a quick, targeted theft on Essilia Street, where security footage shows just how fast these jobs are being done. Late on Wednesday night, a car pulls up outside the property. Within moments, a person gets out, heads straight to a vehicle parked in the driveway, and drives off. The entire sequence takes only minutes.
The car was taken sometime between Wednesday afternoon and early Thursday morning (29–30 April), with the owner discovering it missing at around 6:30am.
How the offender accessed the keys remains unclear, but the method fits a pattern seen across the Northern Beaches — offenders moving quickly, often appearing to know exactly what they’re looking for.
Recent incidents in Collaroy Plateau have included a break-in on Claudare Street earlier this year, where keys were taken and a Mazda CX-3 stolen before being recovered in Narrabeen. There have also been other attempted thefts in the area, along with the high-profile theft of a vintage Porsche in 2025.
Police have been linking a number of these matters under Strikeforce Sweetenham, which continues to investigate vehicle-related offences across the region.
Details of the vehicles involved in the latest Essilia Street incident have not yet been released. Police are urging residents to review CCTV or dashcam footage from the area and report anything suspicious.
Retail Crackdown in Dee Why
The car theft comes as police ramp up enforcement elsewhere on the Beaches.
On 30 April, officers carried out a targeted operation in Dee Why focused on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour around Howard Avenue. The crackdown, led by the Northern Beaches Youth Officer, resulted in five on-the-spot fines and five youth cautions.
A 15-year-old boy was also arrested and charged over an alleged theft at a supermarket earlier in the week. He was refused bail and is due to face the Children’s Court.
The operation forms part of a wider NSW Police push to curb retail crime, with increased patrols and closer coordination with local businesses.
$80,000 Lost in Email Scam
Police are also warning locals after a Terrey Hills business lost $80,000 in an email scam.
The company believed it was paying a legitimate supplier, but the invoice had been altered — with bank details swapped out by a scammer. The deception was only uncovered after the payment had gone through.
Investigators say these “business email compromise” scams are becoming more common again, often involving subtle changes to email addresses that can be hard to spot.
Their advice is simple: always verify bank details by phone before transferring large sums.
What Collaroy Residents Can Do
With thefts and scams both on the radar, police are urging residents to stay vigilant — lock vehicles, secure keys out of sight, and double-check financial transactions.
Anyone with information about the Essilia Street theft is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Published 30-April-2026
