An alleged robbery at a Terrey Hills industrial unit is reported to be under examination for possible links to an international organised crime group and contraband concealed in a legitimate shipment.
NSW Police were called to the commercial premises shortly after 6:30am on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, after workers reported a robbery.
Staff told officers that two men wearing black balaclavas had entered at about 6am. The pair allegedly made demands and threatened workers before taking several items and leaving a short time later.
No injuries were reported. Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command established a crime scene, and detectives were seen conducting inquiries later that morning.
Police have not disclosed what was taken or identified any vehicles being sought in connection with the incident.
The incident was later reported to have involved a firearm. The investigation is also reported to be considering whether an international criminal group was involved and whether contraband had been placed inside a legitimate shipment without the importer’s knowledge.
That possible method is known as piggybacking. It involves prohibited goods being inserted into a commercial shipping container at its point of origin or destination, then removed by people with access to the freight network.
The reported theory in the Terrey Hills robbery is that trusted insiders were expected to retrieve concealed goods at Port Botany before the legitimate cargo continued to the business on Tepko Road.
Arrests involving port workers, along with the May arrest of a 29-year-old Sydney man alleged to have coordinated activity for criminal groups, may have disrupted that plan.
Under the unconfirmed scenario, the container instead reached the Terrey Hills business intact and the group allegedly arranged the robbery to recover the concealed items.
The nature of any suspected contraband has not been disclosed. The possible connection between the Tepko Road incident, the shipment and the earlier arrests forms part of the reported theory and has not been established as fact.
Taskforce Targets Trusted Insiders
NSW Police is part of the Multi Agency Strike Team, which targets international crime groups that use insiders with access to shipping containers, freight systems and restricted premises.
The taskforce also includes the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and the Australian Taxation Office.
Its work has disrupted several alleged importation plots involving trusted insiders at Port Botany. Criminal groups are alleged to have paid insiders as much as $200,000 in cash, depending on the access or assistance provided.
Contraband can be removed while a container remains at the port. When goods are concealed within the container’s structure, they may instead be retrieved after the legitimate cargo has been delivered and the empty container has returned to a freight facility.
The taskforce examines how prohibited goods bypass border controls, identifies weaknesses used by criminal networks and seeks to prevent the same access from being exploited again.
Belrose has entered Sydney’s shark safety discussion as attention turns to whether artificial intelligence can help drone surveillance detect sharks faster and support earlier warnings at busy beaches.
Belrose sits away from the shoreline, but it has become part of the wider discussion about how artificial intelligence could strengthen shark surveillance across Sydney beaches.
Surf Life Saving NSW runs some autonomous drone operations from its head office in Belrose for remote areas. That work has drawn attention as beach safety teams consider how drone surveillance could become faster, more automated and more closely connected to public warning systems.
The discussion has sharpened after a serious shark bite at Coogee Beach involving Leah Stewart, a 35-year-old mother and teacher who was attacked by a great white shark while swimming between the flags. She has undergone multiple surgeries and had her left arm amputated.
The incident has placed fresh focus on the time between a shark being detected and swimmers being told to leave the water.
Macquarie University Professor Culum Brown has said an early warning system could use autonomous drones with onboard sensors and artificial intelligence to detect sharks from the air.
Under that type of system, a drone could identify a shark, follow its movement and send information back to a base. Beach safety teams could then use that information to support warnings, closures or further surveillance.
Emeritus Professor Rob Harcourt, also from Macquarie University, has said autonomous drones and AI shark recognition technology are either available or close to available.
The proposed technology would sit beside existing patrols rather than replace them. Lifesavers, drone pilots and beach operators would still remain central to decisions made on the sand and in the water.
Belrose-Based Operations Add To Existing Capability
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce has said the organisation already runs autonomous drones from its Belrose head office for remote areas, while still prioritising visible drone pilots on beaches where possible.
That visible presence remains part of beach safety operations, with drone pilots identifiable to beachgoers during patrols. At the same time, autonomous operations from Belrose show how some monitoring can also be supported away from the beachfront.
The wider shark safety network already includes drone patrols, SMART drumlines, tagged shark listening stations, beach alerts, the SharkSmart app, shark nets, education campaigns and shark bite kits.
Drone coverage across NSW changes with the season, location and operating conditions. Patrols peak in summer, when beach use is higher, before dropping back in winter.
Any AI shark warning system would need to perform reliably in changing coastal conditions.
Beach safety teams are mainly concerned with white, tiger and bull sharks. False alarms could lead to unnecessary evacuations if dolphins, grey nurse sharks or wobbegongs are mistaken for dangerous sharks.
Surf Life Saving NSW has been working on an AI solution with acceptable accuracy, while researchers have said recognition systems can be trained to identify different species from drone footage.
The challenge is to make the system fast enough to support early warnings while reliable enough to avoid repeated false alarms.
Belrose Role Stays Behind The Scenes
Belrose’s role in the shark safety discussion remains operational rather than beachfront.
Its drone operations show that autonomous aerial surveillance already forms part of the system now under review. The next step being discussed is whether artificial intelligence can make that system quicker and more useful when sharks are detected near swimmers.
As Sydney beaches look towards the next summer season, Belrose sits behind the drone capability now being considered for a more advanced shark warning network.
Young riders in Belrose no longer have to risk steep, rugged trails to learn mountain biking, as the newly upgraded Wyatt Avenue Bike Park provides a perfectly smooth, custom-designed loop for beginners to master gravity drops and technical jumps safely.
The track has recently undergone a major resurfacing project to create a highly forgiving environment for novice cyclists and children with little bikes. Instead of being thrown into the deep end, riders can use this space to practise their core skills and advance at a pace they feel comfortable with.
The facility is specifically aimed at helping kids build up their riding confidence before they eventually progress to more demanding, high-level tracks located at Manly Dam or Bare Creek. By focusing on safety and steady progression, the park acts as an essential stepping stone for the local youth.
Constructed three and a half years ago, the park was brought to life by the local Council’s landscape and construction teams working closely alongside Trail Care, a regional mountain biking advocacy and consultancy group. The recent upgrades and the overall design of the trails rely heavily on direct feedback from those who know the sport best.
Parents of young riders, community members, and professional mountain biking skills coaches all shared their insights to ensure the track met the exact needs of beginners. This massive collaborative effort has made the facility feel brand new again.
The park is packed with varied terrain to give newcomers a taste of real mountain biking without the intense danger. Cyclists can kick off their runs at a dedicated bike launching area before heading into climb and descent sections that test their ability to handle inclines.
As they grow more comfortable, riders can take on various technical elements, including berms and jumps, or even experience the thrill of downhill riding in a specific gravity zone. While the kids are busy advancing their skills on the track, parents and spectators can watch from a designated viewing platform or relax in the surrounding picnic and grassed areas.
A warehouse robbery at Terrey Hills has prompted a police investigation after workers at a commercial premises on Tepko Road were allegedly threatened by two masked men before several items were taken.
Workers Threatened During Terrey Hills Warehouse Robbery
Detectives are investigating a warehouse robbery at Terrey Hills after staff at an industrial unit reported being confronted by two men wearing black balaclavas.
Police were called shortly after 6:30 am on Wednesday, 10 June, following reports of a robbery at a commercial premises on Tepko Road. Staff told police the men had allegedly entered the property around 6:00 am, made demands and threatened them.
The men allegedly took several items before leaving the scene a short time later. No injuries were reported.
The incident has drawn attention because of the early-morning timing, the alleged use of face coverings, and the direct threats made towards workers inside the premises. Police have not disclosed what items were taken.
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command attended the site and established a crime scene at the industrial unit.
Detectives were observed carrying out inquiries shortly after 9.00am as the response continued at the Terrey Hills location. The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery remain under investigation, including how the men entered the property and where they went after leaving.
Police have not released any details about vehicles being sought in connection with the incident. The nature of the goods allegedly stolen has also not been revealed.
The warehouse sits within an industrial area on Tepko Road, where several commercial units operate. Warehouses in the area appear to have a high vacancy rate, though it remains unclear whether the targeted unit was occupied under a short-term arrangement.
Goods Taken Have Not Been Revealed
The investigation remains focused on the alleged entry, threats made to staff, and the removal of items from the premises.
No confirmed information has been released about whether weapons were involved, what was taken, or whether the incident was connected to any broader criminal activity. Unverified claims circulating online have not been confirmed by police and have not formed part of the established facts of the case.
The confirmed details remain limited to the report of two men wearing black balaclavas, the alleged threats and demands made towards workers, and the removal of several items from the commercial premises.
Separate Frenchs Forest Incident Forms Local Context
The Terrey Hills warehouse robbery comes after a separate incident last month, when police detained three men who had allegedly broken into a storage facility at Frenchs Forest.
In that matter, the truck allegedly linked to the men was reported to have contained contraband vapes and cigarettes. That incident has not been linked to the Terrey Hills robbery.
A mountain bike rider has been taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after crashing at Bare Creek Bike Park in Belrose, prompting a response from ambulance crews, firefighters, police and CareFlight.
Emergency crews were called to Bare Creek Bike Park on Crozier Road shortly before 12:45 pm on Monday, 8 June, after a man was seriously injured while riding on the course.
The man, aged in his 20s, had been riding at the park during a busy period, with the public holiday and good weather bringing a large number of riders to the area.
The crash happened on the eastern side of the course after the rider had travelled through a series of jumps and continued from a stone wall drop into a left turn. As he came through the bend, he appeared to lose enough momentum to clear the next jump cleanly before going over the handlebars, landing heavily and rolling down a steep embankment.
People nearby, including friends of the rider, went to his aid and kept him in position on the embankment while emergency services made their way to the location.
The first ambulance crews reached the rider just after 12:45 pm. He was conscious and in significant pain when crews found him in a difficult position on the embankment.
A larger emergency response followed, involving NSW Ambulance crews, firefighters, police and CareFlight. Intensive care paramedics, a special operations paramedic, an ambulance supervisor and a four-wheel drive transport ambulance were also sent to the bike park.
CareFlight’s helicopter was tasked from Westmead at around 1:00 pm and landed at the Bare Creek helipad shortly before 1:15 pm. A specialist doctor and critical care paramedic were then taken to the rider’s location on the track.
Rider Treated For Suspected Spinal Injuries
The man was treated at the scene for suspected spinal injuries before being carefully moved from the steep embankment by firefighters and paramedics.
He was loaded into a four-wheel drive transport ambulance and taken from the course to the car park, where he was transferred to an intensive care ambulance for further assessment.
The rider was taken by road ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital shortly before 2:00 pm, accompanied by CareFlight’s specialist doctor. He was transported in a serious but stable condition.
The response also showed the importance of accurate location details in outdoor areas without a simple street address. Callers to Triple Zero were able to provide the rider’s exact position on the course using the Emergency Plus app, helping crews reach him within the bike park.
Emergency crews responded to two separate incidents in Terrey Hills on Friday, 29 May, including a fallen tree blocking a roadway and a late-night fire alarm at an industrial property.
Terrey Hills Rural Fire Brigade was first called to Kanangra Avenue shortly after 6am after reports a tree had fallen across the road.
Firefighters used chainsaws to cut up the tree and clear debris from the roadway, allowing the road to reopen just before 7am.
Later that evening, just after 8pm, NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews responded to a fire alarm at commercial premises on Tepko Road.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced entry into the light industrial unit but found no signs of smoke or fire, later determining the alarm had been falsely triggered.
The incidents form part of a broader snapshot of recent emergency service activity across Terrey Hills.
A proposal to reintroduce petrol sales at a Pringle Avenue site in Belrose has brought renewed attention to a property with decades of service station history, as residents raise concerns about traffic, parking, noise and school safety.
The development application, listed as DA2025/1638, applies to 8 / 0 Pringle Avenue. It seeks approval to use the existing premises as a service station, with alterations and additions to the building, new petrol tanks and pumps, business identification signage, and regularisation of an existing vehicle repair workshop.
The proposed works are valued at $1,109,210. The application was submitted on 10 November 2025 and was exhibited from 19 November 2025 to 3 December 2025. Its listed status remains under assessment.
Pringle Avenue Site Has Long Fuel Station History
The proposal would mark a return of fuel sales to a site that has previously operated as a service station. Planning permission for fuel use was first granted in 1965, and petrol was sold there until 2009.
After fuel sales ended, the underground tanks were decommissioned. The site later continued with a carwash and vehicle repair use. Earlier records linked to the property include DA2008/1482, which covered alterations and additions to an existing service station to provide a carwash facility, along with related records from 2009.
Speedway, an independent petrol chain with more than 40 outlets across NSW and Victoria, is seeking to operate the Belrose site with four bowsers. The plan would remove the existing carwash, replace underground fuel tanks and alter the existing building.
The proposed operating hours are 7 am to 10 pm.
Residents Raise Concerns Near Belrose Public School
The proposal has drawn concern from nearby residents, particularly because of the site’s proximity to Belrose Public School.
Issues raised include traffic, pedestrian safety for pupils travelling to and from school, petrol fumes, operating hours, noise linked to fuel deliveries and waste collection, and whether the proposed parking would be enough for the site.
The plan includes 13 parking spaces. One resident raised concern that local planning controls would require 20 spaces, arguing that any shortfall could place pressure on surrounding streets.
Residents also questioned whether discounted fuel could draw drivers away from nearby routes and into local streets close to the school.
Applicant Says Fuel Deliveries Would Avoid School Hours
The applicant’s planning consultant said fuel deliveries by tankers would not take place during school hours.
The applicant’s position is that the service station would operate as a local fuel option rather than a major draw for vehicles from Forest Way. The consultant also said the proposal was not intended to increase the scale of the existing vehicle repair workshop.
The application is now awaiting a decision. The proposal has become a local test of how a former fuel site could operate again in a neighbourhood setting, with discounted petrol access weighed against concerns about traffic, parking, noise and school safety.
Emergency services responded to several incidents across Belrose between Sunday, 17 May and Friday, 22 May, including a serious mountain bike crash, a medical emergency at a construction site and multiple traffic incidents.
Rider Injured After Crashing Over Jump at Bike Park
NSW Ambulance and firefighters from Gordon Station were first called to Bare Creek Bike Park on Crozier Road just after 8.30am on Sunday, 17 May.
Paramedics treated a 45-year-old mountain bike rider who had reportedly fallen around three metres after crashing over a jump.
The man was assessed for head and hip injuries before firefighters helped carry him from the track in a stokes litter to a four-wheel-drive ambulance waiting nearby.
He was later transferred to another ambulance and transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition.
Emergency Response at Construction Site
Emergency crews were again called to Crozier Road just before 11.15am on Wednesday, 20 May, after reports of a man collapsing at a worksite.
NSW Ambulance paramedics assessed a 54-year-old man suffering respiratory distress at the lower level of a construction site.
With assistance from firefighters from Forestville Station, the man was carried to a waiting ambulance before being transported to Northern Beaches Hospital in a serious condition.
Multiple Traffic Incidents on Forest Way
Police also responded to two separate traffic incidents on Forest Way during the early hours of Thursday, 21 May.
The first crash was reported just before 1.45am, followed by another collision shortly after 5am.
Further details about the incidents have not been released.
Vehicle Theft Reported
Police later received reports just before 3pm on Friday, 22 May, that a vehicle had allegedly been stolen from Morgan Road, Belrose.
The incidents form part of a broader snapshot of recent police and emergency service activity across Belrose.
Belrose and nearby Terrey Hills have emerged as a strong Northern Beaches education pocket in NSW’s private primary school rankings, with four local schools appearing in the Top 100 through a mix of academic performance, high participation, socio-educational advantage and distinctive school models.
Four schools across Belrose and Terrey Hills have been listed in NSW’s Top 100 private primary school rankings, giving the area a strong presence in the latest measure of Catholic and independent primary performance.
John Colet School in Belrose led the local group, ranking 11th in NSW. Sydney Japanese International School in Terrey Hills ranked 33rd, followed by Covenant Christian School in Belrose at 60th and German International School Sydney in Terrey Hills at 91st.
The rankings assessed more than 2,000 private primary schools across Australia, using 2025 Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN results, student-staff ratios, attendance levels and socio-educational data. School fees were listed separately but were not included in the ranking calculation.
Among the four local schools, the listed fees were $16,187 for John Colet School, $16,049 for Sydney Japanese International School, $11,538 for Covenant Christian School and $19,177 for German International School Sydney. For combined schools, the listed figures reflect the way those schools were reported in the ranking data.
John Colet School’s position at No. 11 was supported by high 2025 NAPLAN averages, full test participation and a strong socio-educational profile.
The Belrose school is a multi-faith, co-educational independent K–6 primary school located in a bushland setting on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It has 275 enrolments, made up of 144 boys and 131 girls, and an ICSEA value of 1210, placing it in the 99th percentile. Its 2025 NAPLAN participation rate was 100 per cent.
The school’s Year 5 averages were 580 in reading, 566 in writing, 564 in spelling, 632 in grammar and 610 in numeracy. Its Year 3 averages were 478 in reading, 477 in writing, 460 in spelling, 524 in grammar and 484 in numeracy.
Beyond the data, John Colet’s school profile points to a distinctive primary model. Its curriculum includes the core NSW syllabus, alongside Shakespeare, weekly Philosophy classes, Sanskrit, choral singing and an enriched art program. The school also places emphasis on character, attention, values and academic achievement, with teachers staying with the same class for several years to support continuity.
Covenant Christian School gave Belrose a second entry in the Top 100, ranking 60th. The school operates on a larger scale than John Colet, with 884 enrolments across its K–12 structure.
The co-educational Christian school had 458 boys and 426 girls, an ICSEA value of 1155 and a 96th percentile ICSEA ranking. Its 2025 NAPLAN participation rate was 99 per cent.
In the primary years, Covenant recorded Year 3 averages of 469 in reading, 469 in writing, 456 in spelling, 490 in grammar and 477 in numeracy. Its Year 5 averages were 536 in reading, 516 in writing, 514 in spelling, 574 in grammar and 559 in numeracy.
Covenant’s broader school identity is built around a Prep to Year 12 Christian education model. The school says it partners with more than 550 families and offers Prep, Junior and Secondary sections, with an emphasis on Christian learning, academic rigour, and sporting, creative and cultural areas.
Nearby Terrey Hills added two more schools to the NSW Top 100, both with international education models and highly language-diverse student communities.
Sydney Japanese International School ranked 33rd. The non-denominational independent school has 190 enrolments across its K–9 year range, with 89 boys and 101 girls. It recorded an ICSEA value of 1137, placing it in the 93rd percentile, and had a 2025 NAPLAN participation rate of 95 per cent.
Its Year 3 averages were 467 in reading, 480 in writing, 502 in spelling, 516 in grammar and 481 in numeracy. Its Year 5 averages were 497 in reading, 473 in writing, 496 in spelling, 526 in grammar and 545 in numeracy.
Sydney Japanese International School’s profile is shaped by its two-curriculum structure. Established in 1969, the school has an International Division using the NSW curriculum and a Japanese Division using the Japanese curriculum. Its International Division was established in 1975 for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, and the school offers daily English, Japanese language and cultural lessons.
German International School Sydney ranked 91st. The co-educational, non-denominational combined school had 380 enrolments, with 199 boys and 181 girls. It recorded an ICSEA value of 1158, placing it in the 96th percentile, and had 98 per cent NAPLAN participation.
The school’s Year 5 averages were 526 in reading, 517 in writing, 538 in spelling, 547 in grammar and 528 in numeracy. Its Year 3 averages were 434 in reading, 453 in writing, 415 in spelling, 428 in grammar and 416 in numeracy.
Founded in 1989, German International School Sydney offers multilingual education from Preschool to Year 12. Its curriculum combines the NSW syllabus with the German Thüringen curriculum, and students may enrol without prior knowledge of German. In the senior years, the school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The four schools did not reach the Top 100 through one shared model. John Colet’s local lead was supported by high primary results, full NAPLAN participation and a strong ICSEA profile. Covenant Christian School added a larger K–12 Christian campus to the Belrose picture. Sydney Japanese International School brought a dual-curriculum structure and the highest language-background diversity among the four, while German International School Sydney added a bilingual international pathway from the Terrey Hills side.
The language-background figures underline that difference. Sydney Japanese International School had 92 per cent of students with a language background other than English, followed by John Colet School at 69 per cent, German International School Sydney at 54 per cent and Covenant Christian School at 33 per cent.
Together, the rankings show why Belrose and Terrey Hills stand out in this year’s private primary list. The area’s schools combine academic results, strong participation, high socio-educational profiles and distinctive learning identities, placing four local campuses across the NSW Top 100.
A teenage motorbike rider has been rescued from bushland off McCarrs Creek Road after crashing down an embankment in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park while riding alone.
The 17-year-old rider contacted Triple Zero just before 9:00 pm on Tuesday, 5 May, after coming off his motorbike and sliding from the road into bushland.
He was connected with a NSW Ambulance call taker and reported that he had gone down an embankment after leaving the roadway. The rider was injured and lying upside down in the bush.
He had been riding alone and could not reach his mobile phone after the crash. However, he was able to call emergency services through the Bluetooth connection in his motorbike helmet. Although he could make the call, he was unable to give rescuers his exact location.
Five NSW Ambulance crews were sent to McCarrs Creek Road, including Intensive Care Paramedics, a Special Operations Paramedic and NSW Ambulance Inspector Christian Holmes. The Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter was also tasked from Bankstown.
Firefighters from Mona Vale and Terrey Hills, along with police, were also assigned to the rescue.
Crews approached the area from both directions, with some travelling from Church Point and others coming down from Terrey Hills. The injured rider remained conscious and was able to tell emergency responders when he heard sirens pass nearby, helping them work out where he had left the road.
Paramedics first located the rider’s 2017 Honda CB300 motorcycle about five metres from the roadway in the bushes. The rider was found about 10 metres further down the road, also about five metres from the roadway, down an embankment. He had narrowly missed hitting a fallen tree.
Rider Taken To Royal North Shore Hospital
As paramedics assessed him, police and firefighters helped set up lighting and close the road. The rider reported pain through his right side, including his hip and abdomen.
He was placed on a spine board and carefully lifted out of the bush by firefighters, police and paramedics before being moved onto a NSW Ambulance stretcher for further assessment.
There were concerns about possible abdominal and pelvic injuries, but he remained in a stable condition. The rescue helicopter was called off, and the rider was taken by NSW Ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital just before 10:00 pm.
