Exclusive: A youth crime wave is gripping some of Sydney’s most sought-after suburbs, prompting fed-up residents to demand stronger police action.
The leafy Lower North Shore has long been considered a safe and family-friendly enclave in the NSW capital.
Local resident Jamie Vachon (right) says even when offenders are caught, nothing is being done to prevent reoffending. Supplied
Recently, though, it has been targeted by vandals, shoplifters and roaming groups of thugs who are verbally abusing residents and assaulting retail workers.
The rate of shoplifting has become so bad that some liquor stores are locking out customers in fear of being swarmed by young people.
Crows Nest resident Chloe was recovering from surgery when she decided to go for a walk to her local playground.
She told nine.com.au she was “terrorised” by two young people who followed her and yelled abuse for several blocks.
“They were right in front of my face, just hurling abuse,” she said.
“It just came out of nowhere, I was very afraid.”
Chloe was “scared” to leave the house and avoided going outside for weeks.
“I’ve been in this suburb for as long as I’ve been here [in Australia], and I’ve never ever experienced anything like that, even in other suburbs in Australia,” she added.
The same two were also seen abusing commuters at the train station in Crows Nest when Chloe finally ventured outside again.
She said the pair of thugs also targeted an Asian grocer in St Leonards, stealing groceries and even hurting a staff member.
“Outside of their store they have got posters of people that shoplift and I could instantly recognised the two thugs that terrorised me,” Chloe said.
“I showed [the staff] the photos I had of the kids, and they’re like, ‘Yep, it’s exactly them’.
“That’s when I learned they were terrorising businesses too.”
Chloe reported the incidents to a police officer patrolling the area.
Graffiti seen in North Sydney. Instagram/@north.sydney
Bottle shops targeted by youths
Bottle shops on the Lower North Shore have been victimised by a band of young people who use a tactic known as “swarming” to shoplift without suspicion.
Amanda* lives in Crows Nest and said she has witnessed multiple robberies over the past six months.
Most of the time, the terrified staff are powerless to stop them.
“I saw these teenagers storming bottle shops and just overwhelming them with numbers,” she said.
“I have seen it happen multiple times, and I’m just one person.
“I just feel really bad for all the people just trying to do their jobs and make a living.”
Some bottle shops are even locking the doors during trading hours and are only opening if a genuine customer wants to come in.
Liquorland in North Sydney has put a sign on its automatic doors, asking customers to knock if they want to enter “for security reasons”.
A Liquorland spokesperson told nine.com.au that this is a temporary measure to keep staff safe from “abuse and threatening behaviours” after repeated incidents.
“We have been working hard to address the issue and create a safe environment for our team and customers,” the spokesperson said.
“To help us do this we have a range of safety and security measures in place including CCTV, access control entry doors, security guards, bodyworn cameras and de-escalation training for our team.
“We are also trialling some new security technology, including remote-activated display cabinets, which will reduce organised retail theft targeting these high-value items, ultimately meaning we have better availability of products that our customers want.”
Amanda said that retail staff are too scared to challenge shoplifters when they swarm their shop.
“They really do need police to step in, they’re afraid that if they try and stop them, that they’ll get in trouble for assault,” she added.
Calls for stronger police action
Fellow resident Jamie Vachon, who has launched a petition asking police and the local council to step in, said the repeated incidents have created “an atmosphere of fear across our area”.
“Residents and business owners report the same individuals being caught repeatedly, only for nothing to be done by local police,” he said.
“The result is a growing sense that law-abiding people are being left unsupported while small businesses and frontline workers carry the cost — financially, emotionally, and physically.”
Jamie Vachon said his community is fed up. Supplied
He told nine.com.au that his mates who are local business owners have “had enough”.
Vachon took his concerns to Willoughby MP Tim James, who told the community that “investigations are on foot and actions will be taken”.
“What has happened is not acceptable and will not go without consequences,” he said.
“Many of the offenders are known – and for what it’s worth, there are some local and some from out of the area.
“The police licensing officer is working with retailers and a range of actions underway.
“Further police visibility in the area will be seen too – and more measures too.”
NSW Police told nine.com.au it “continues work to prevent, disrupt and respond to all crime and antisocial behaviour, including youth-related crime”.
“For the first quarter of 2026, initiatives implemented by North Shore Police Area Command have seen a 23 per cent reduction in theft in retail bottle shops within the command,” it said.
“Licensing officers conduct security assessments of bottle shops after each offence is reported and promote target-hardening initiatives to assist in reduction of these offences.
“Officers have also worked closely with large liquor retail chains to successfully implement strategies, for example, the storages of certain products in locked cabinets and fridges.”
As residents nervously await changes in their community, Chloe said some locals have discussed forming a “neighbourhood watch” to patrol the streets.
“I’m more than happy to volunteer myself,” she said.
“If we did form a small sort of patrol unit ourselves with the locals, that really would help other locals feel safer, and businesses as well.”
*Name has been changed