By ANNA USHER

Lower north shore locals are on alert following a spike in crime over the past few weeks.

Multiple residents in the suburbs of Neutral Bay and Cremorne have reported their cars and homes have been ransacked in recent weeks.

On the Cremorne + Neutral Bay Facebook group, resident Annette said a man had smashed his way into her car for the second time this month.

“All neighbours in my apartment block were also affected,” Annette said.

“Other people on Lindsay St were also reporting break-ins.

“This is scary what’s going on these days.”

Mosman Collective understands police have begun an investigation to find a male in his “late teens/early 20s” browsing streets to steal from cars and homes in the vicinity.

Local woman Teresa said she allegedly caught the young man browsing Lindsay Street, Barry Street and Yeo Street looking for easy opportunities.

Last Thursday, she described him as wearing “navy pants, black jacket & backpack and beige floppy hat, short brown hair, fair skin, tall”.

“My husband and I just caught a young guy scoping cars, trying to open doors, going into open garages and checking apartments & houses for things to take (like parcels),” Teresa wrote of the male.

“We have called the police and given them the description and location, and they are on his tracks.

“We alerted our neighbours, and they have also seen some loitering characters looking for opportunities.”

It comes following a disturbing incident on September 6, when a man allegedly broke into a property near Milson Road and stole jewellery from the home.

According to the homeowner, the man, pictured wearing a black suit, t-shirt and black bucket hat, broke into his house and “stole all my wife’s jewellery, most of it irreplaceable with huge sentimental value”.

“He entered from the lane around 22 Milson Road and disappeared into either 34 or 36 Milson road for 4-5 minutes, possibly casing these out,” the local man said.

“Owners here should also be aware and check footage.

“He then was shown entering our place at 10.25 am, and leaving at 10.45 carrying a floral pillow case full of stolen property up the stairs towards Milson Road at Rialto.”

NSW Police have confirmed that following inquiries, a search warrant was executed on Toxteth St, Glebe.

“A short time later, a 61-year-old man was arrested on Little Mount Street, Pyrmont,” Mosman Collective was told.

“He was taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with seven counts of break and enter house etc steal value and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle).

“He faced Bail Division Court 7 on Wednesday 10 September 2025, where he was refused bail and is next due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 28 October 2025.”