Criminal syndicate allegedly broke into Abdallah family’s Telopea home

Police are searching for a man allegedly involved in a string of break-ins and appealing for anyone who might have priceless items taken from the Abdullah family home to return them.

Police claim a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in breaking into homes across Sydney is responsible for an attack on the grieving Abdallah family who lost three children in a car crash last year.

Emergency services rushed to the Telopea home of Danny and Leila Abdallah on April 28, following reports it was broken into by an unknown man.

Ms Abdallah was in the home with a 40-year-old female friend when she saw the unknown man leaving through the front door.

Emergency services rushed to the Telopea home of Danny and Leila Abdallah on April 28, following reports it was broken into by an unknown man. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Three of her children, Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 9, were killed on February 1 last year when they were run down by an out-of-control car. Her niece, 11-year-old Veronique Sakr, was also killed.

Ms Abdallah said she was sitting at her kitchen bench looking at photos of her children when she caught a glimpse of the unknown man walking out of her front door with a bag of stolen belongings.

“I was sitting on my kitchen bench trying to send pictures of my kids to someone and they just walked in,” she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

“I saw someone briefly leaving my house and he had a black bag on him. Then I went upstairs and rang the police straight away.

“They took my bag, our jewellery, one of my children’s phones, but the biggest thing is they took memories.”

A mobile phone belonging to their son Antony was also stolen.

Financial Crimes Squad commander Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett said the property would be of little value to the alleged offenders.

Police are appealing for information on the man accused of breaking into homes, claiming he was involved in a string of break-ins. Picture: NSW Police

“There’s every likelihood that the property has been onsold so the person that might actually have it at the moment, it’s probably of little value to them,’’ Det-Supt Howlett said.

Police believe the robberies were opportunistic.

“We don’t believe they were deliberately targeted, it just happened to be an opportunity that the offenders took advantage of,’’ Det-Supt Howlett said.

“However, the Abdallah family had been through enough so I would actively encourage anyone who knows who this persons are, or has the property that was stolen from the premises, to actually return it to the police.

“The family aren’t concerned about the money that was taken. Importantly it’s the personal items that had been taken from the house that belonged to the children who are now deceased.

“It’s a low-life act, quite frankly. I mean we’re talking about people in the privacy of their own home and basically their privacy’s been violated.’’

Later on April 28, day police were called to a home on Kissing Point Rd at Dundas after reports a man had attempted stealing.

Police were told a 35-year-old man parked his car in the driveway of the home and when he returned to it he found a man was in the driver’s seat.

When the owner confronted the unknown man, he ran to a white Audi parked nearby which was being driven by someone else.

Police were called to a home on Wolmer St, Oatlands about 3.30am April 29 following reports of another break-in.

Police say the white Audi S3 is related to the break-ins. Picture: NSW Police

Personal items, including credit cards, had been allegedly stolen from the home.

Later that morning a white Audi sedan was captured on CCTV driving into a shopping centre carpark on Carlisle Ave, Mount Druitt.

A man who matched the description of the person captured on CCTV at the first break-in allegedly tried to withdraw money from an ATM with a stolen credit card.

The Audi was later seen on Popondetta Rd, Blackett about 10.45pm before it was abandoned and found by police.

Police believe the break-ins and fraudulent transaction at Mount Druitt are linked and are now asking for public assistance to identify a man they believe may be able to assist with inquiries.

The man is described as being 183cm tall, aged between 20-25 years old with a skinny build and dark hair.

He was wearing a black baseball cap, black track pants and a blue hooded jumper with a yellow hi-vis vest.

Strike Force Swete was established in November to investigate the alleged criminal syndicate, since charging seven men who are all before the courts.

Det-Supt Howlett said police believed the man pictured in the original CCTV images released was acting with others but “we’re not linking our numbers”.

“Anyone who has any involvement in the break-and-enters, that’s what we want, information from members of the public,’’ she said.

““Let me assure you, you will be caught, you will be arrested before the courts. It’s only a matter of time before we knock on your door.’’

Det-Supt Howlett urged the community to be vigilant especially during lockdowns.

“It’s always very disturbing that these offenders are prepared to take advantage of victims that are home at the time,’’ she said.

“I would encourage any victim if you’re approached in your own home, do not challenge the offender.

“Move away from them because your safety is the ultimate thing. However, people must be vigilant. If you’re home alone in this current climate, I would suggest you obviously keep your doors locked.’’