Police release images of man who allegedly stalked 13-year-old girl

An alleged stalker took off his shoes, crept around the side of a Sydney home and spent 17 minutes in the backyard staring from the shadows at a 13-year-old girl as she watched TV.

An alleged stalker took off his shoes, crept around the side of a Sydney home and spent 17 minutes in the backyard staring from the shadows at a 13-year-old girl as she watched TV.

Terrifyingly, police suspect it is the second time in the past six weeks the man has targeted the home at Collaroy Plateau where the teenager lives with her parents.

Police are looking for a man they believe is stalking a 13-year-old girl.

In the first incidence, the girl reported seeing a “silhouette’’ staring through the window of her bedroom about 9pm on October 4.

While the parents didn’t report it to police, they were so concerned they installed CCTV cameras the next week in and around their single-storey home.

Police believe the same man returned to the home about 10.45pm on November 30 and was again seen “peeping’’ at the girl sitting in the lounge room watching TV while her parents were in another room.

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The parents contacted police and searched the backyard for the man but there was no sign of him.

Police canvassed the neighbours and reviewed CCTV from the newly installed cameras around the home.

It showed a man, in his mid 20s, entering the yard through a side gate, taking off his shoes and then creeping around the side of the house and looking into the bathroom and loungeroom.

He spent about 17 minutes lingering outside the room where the girl sat watching TV just metres away.

“The family haven’t slept back at the home this weekend, so worried are they about what happened, understandably,” Northern Beaches crime manager Detective Inspector Michael Boutouridis said.

“At best this man is a peeping Tom, at worst there is something more sinister behind his actions,’’ he said.

“His actions lead us to believe that he was not there to break in for a robbery. He pushed open a side gate, took of his shoes and can be seen creeping around the side of the house looking into rooms.’’

The man is believed to have targeted the girl twice.

Inspector Boutouridis said the windows of the single-storey home are about waist-high meaning the offender could peer inside the home comfortably.

He said it wasn’t until police had gone through the CCTV footage that the family were aware how long he had spent on the property.

“Families have the right to feel safe in their own homes but incidents such as these can be extremely distressing, especially when children are involved,” Inspector Boutouridis said.

“We’ve spoken to the family involved, we’ve canvassed the neighbourhood and have collated information, but we need help from the community to identify this person.’’

The is described as being either Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Pacific Islander in appearance, about 25 to 35 years old, with a medium to large build and short dark hair.

At the time of the second offence, he was wearing a light-coloured T-shirt, long pants, white sneakers and a black watch.

Police are also going through all records to see if any other similar incidents have been reported in the area, although such crimes are often not reported.

Anyone who may have information about the man is asked to contact Dee Why Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.