HSC 2025 Countdown: Lower north shore study events, free tutoring + therapy dogs.Café Crimewave: Man charged over 9-month stealing spree from Crows Nest to Cremorne.
A man has faced court after an alleged cafe and restaurant crime spree, which took place over nine months.
By ANNA USHER
An alleged serial burglar accused of targeting some of Sydney’s most popular food outlets – including bubble tea shops, burrito joints, and pizza bars – has faced court after a nine month crime spree across the northern beaches and lower north shore.
Kepu Taniela Nathan, 35, from Dee Why, is behind bars after being charged with 15 break-and-enter offences, plus a string of related charges including stealing vehicles, driving while disqualified, and obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Kepu Taniela Nathan, 35, appeared in Manly Local Court last week and will reappear at the Downing Centre on November 4.
Nathan is alleged to have systematically raided 13 cafés, restaurants and fast-food outlets between December 2024 and August 2025, hitting locations including Crows Nest, Lane Cove, Chatswood, Seaforth, Manly, Cremorne and Dee Why.
The Daily Telegraph reports he did not apply for bail when he appeared in Manly Local Court on Thursday. The case has been adjourned to the Downing Centre Local Court on 4 November.
Court documents tendered last week allege the New Zealand citizen, who has lived in Australia since 2007, committed his first burglary at Barrel One café in Lane Cove on December 3 last year.
Nathan is alleged to have stolen $650 in goods from Blessed Bowls, Seaforth on Dec 22 last year.
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From there, it’s claimed he broke into:
- Chatime, Lane Cove (4 Dec) – $1,200 in property stolen
- Fresh café, Crows Nest (6 Dec) – $1,000 in cash stolen
- Fishbowl, Crows Nest (9 Dec)
- Blessed Bowls, Seaforth (22 Dec) – $650 in goods taken
- Madd Toppings, Crows Nest (8 Jan) – $1,014 cash and several EFTPOS/debit cards allegedly stolen
- Double Cross Dining Room, Crows Nest (6 Feb) – $360 cash and a credit card stolen and used
- Guzman y Gomez, Lane Cove (6 Feb) – allegedly broken into using a crowbar
- Cotti Café, Chatswood (9 Feb) – $1,500 in cash taken
- House of Thai, Dee Why (3 May) – $150 stolen
- Liviti’s Café, Dee Why (5 May) – $25 taken
- Banco Manly (15 May) – $5,000 worth of items taken
- Manly Farm Shop (17 May) – $500 in property stolen
- I Love Pizza, Cremorne (7 Aug and again on 13 Aug) – $900 taken across both break-ins
Police claim Nathan broke into Guzman y Gomez, Lane Cove (with a crowbar) on February 6.
It’s further alleged that Nathan broke into a house in Artarmon to steal an electric bicycle and, on 7 August, took a Domino’s Pizza delivery motorcycle from Cremorne Point.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Nathan was arrested last week after multiple warrants were issued for his arrest.
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