{"id":713410,"date":"2026-06-03T21:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713410\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T21:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:47:12","slug":"bottle-shop-locks-doors-youth-crime-grips-leafy-sydney-suburbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713410\/","title":{"rendered":"Bottle shop locks doors youth crime grips leafy Sydney suburbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exclusive: A youth crime<\/a> wave is gripping some of Sydney\u2019s<\/a> most sought-after suburbs, prompting fed-up residents to demand stronger police action.<\/p>\n

The leafy Lower North Shore has long been considered a safe and family-friendly enclave in the NSW<\/a> capital.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Local resident Jamie Vachon (right) says even when offenders are caught, nothing is being done to prevent reoffending.\u00a0Supplied<\/p>\n

Recently, though, it has been targeted by vandals, shoplifters and roaming groups of thugs who are verbally abusing residents and assaulting retail workers.<\/p>\n

The rate of shoplifting has become so bad that some liquor stores are locking out customers in fear of being swarmed by young people.<\/p>\n

Crows Nest resident Chloe was recovering from surgery when she decided to go for a walk to her local playground.<\/p>\n

She told nine.com.au she was \u201cterrorised\u201d by two young people who followed her and yelled abuse for several blocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were right in front of my face, just hurling abuse,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just came out of nowhere, I was very afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chloe was \u201cscared\u201d to leave the house and avoided going outside for weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in this suburb for as long as I\u2019ve been here [in Australia], and I\u2019ve never ever experienced anything like that, even in other suburbs in Australia,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

The same two were also seen abusing commuters at the train station in Crows Nest when Chloe finally ventured outside again.<\/p>\n

She said the pair of thugs also targeted an Asian grocer in St Leonards, stealing groceries and even hurting a staff member.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutside of their store they have got posters of people that shoplift and I could instantly recognised the two thugs that terrorised me,\u201d Chloe said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI showed [the staff] the photos I had of the kids, and they\u2019re like, \u2018Yep, it\u2019s exactly them\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when I learned they were terrorising businesses too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chloe reported the incidents to a police officer patrolling the area.<\/p>\n

\"Graffiti<\/p>\n

Graffiti seen in North Sydney.\u00a0Instagram\/@north.sydney<\/p>\n

Bottle shops targeted by youths<\/p>\n

Bottle shops on the Lower North Shore have been victimised by a band of young people who use a tactic known as \u201cswarming\u201d to shoplift without suspicion.<\/p>\n

Amanda* lives in Crows Nest and said she has witnessed multiple robberies over the past six months.<\/p>\n

Most of the time, the terrified staff are powerless to stop them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw these teenagers storming bottle shops and just overwhelming them with numbers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have seen it happen multiple times, and I\u2019m just one person.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel really bad for all the people just trying to do their jobs and make a living.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some bottle shops are even locking the doors during trading hours and are only opening if a genuine customer wants to come in.<\/p>\n

Liquorland in North Sydney has put a sign on its automatic doors, asking customers to knock if they want to enter \u201cfor security reasons\u201d.<\/p>\n

A Liquorland spokesperson told nine.com.au that this is a temporary measure to keep staff safe from \u201cabuse and threatening behaviours\u201d after repeated incidents.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been working hard to address the issue and create a safe environment for our team and customers,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amanda said that retail staff are too scared to challenge shoplifters when they swarm their shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really do need police to step in, they\u2019re afraid that if they try and stop them, that they\u2019ll get in trouble for assault,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Calls for stronger police action<\/p>\n

Fellow resident Jamie Vachon, who has launched a petition asking police and the local council to step in, said the repeated incidents have created \u201can atmosphere of fear across our area\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents and business owners report the same individuals being caught repeatedly, only for nothing to be done by local police,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe result is a growing sense that law-abiding people are being left unsupported while small businesses and frontline workers carry the cost \u2014 financially, emotionally, and physically.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jamie<\/p>\n

Jamie Vachon said his community is fed up.\u00a0Supplied<\/p>\n

He told nine.com.au that his mates who are local business owners have \u201chad enough\u201d.<\/p>\n

Vachon took his concerns to Willoughby MP Tim James, who told the community that \u201cinvestigations are on foot and actions will be taken\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has happened is not acceptable and will not go without consequences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of the offenders are known \u2013 and for what it\u2019s worth, there are some local and some from out of the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police licensing officer is working with retailers and a range of actions underway. <\/p>\n

\u201cFurther police visibility in the area will be seen too \u2013 and more measures too.\u201d<\/p>\n

NSW Police told nine.com.au it \u201ccontinues work to prevent, disrupt and respond to all crime and antisocial behaviour, including youth-related crime\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLicensing officers conduct security assessments of bottle shops after each offence is reported and promote target-hardening initiatives to assist in reduction of these offences.<\/p>\n

\u201cOfficers 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

As residents nervously await changes in their community, Chloe said some locals have discussed forming a \u201cneighbourhood watch\u201d to patrol the streets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m more than happy to volunteer myself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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