Why major crime gangs are stealing Sydneysiders’ IDs as deadly war continues

Organised crime gangs are stealing the identities of Sydneysiders and registering stolen cars in their name, before using them to kill, police investigators believe.

Organised crime gangs are stealing the identities of Sydneysiders and registering stolen cars in their name, before using them to carry out killings in the city’s ongoing underworld war.

The alleged murder of Bilal Hamze in June 2021 and attempted murder of his brother Ibrahem two months later in August are two of the biggest incidents in the tit-for-tat war between the Alameddines, Hamzys and other crime networks.

The Daily Telegraph can now reveal NSW Police believe a modus operandi not previously seen in the feud was used to register cars used in those incidents, and has resulted in innocent members of the public being targeted by the crime clans.

Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty said people may have been confused to receive a letter from Roads and Maritime Services about a car registered in their name they knew nothing about, and hoped they would now come forward.

It comes as police released new CCTV footage of a Ford Territory, Mercedes sedan and Honda Odyssey they believe are linked to Bilal’s killing and Ibrahem’s alleged attempted murder.

Investigations into the murder of underworld figure Bilal Hamze (pictured)

and the attempted murder of Ibrahem Hamze (pictured), have revealed a new modus operandi used by crime clans to target unsuspecting Sydneysiders.

“The Honda and Ford were fraudulently registered, and we ask anyone who may’ve received information from the RMS that any vehicle they do not own has been registered in their name, to report it to police.

“This is a shift in the MO used by these types of criminal syndicates, and as the Ford Territory has yet to be located, I would urge anyone with relevant information to come forward.”

NSW Police believe cars used in Bilal’s murder and the alleged attempted murder of Ibrahem Hamze were registered using stolen identities. Picture: NSW Police

The CCTV showing the Ford, Mercedes and Honda in the vicinity of the North Sydney apartment block has led detectives to believe efforts were being made to kill Ibrahem for almost three weeks before an allegedly failed assassination attempt on August 14, 2021.

Police allege two men, masked and armed, were driving on Walker St in North Sydney when officers tried to stop their Mercedes sedan, before becoming involved in a wild car chase.

Eventually the pair allegedly dumped the Mercedes and carjacked an elderly man’s Toyota – before making a getaway.

Three men have since been charged over their alleged involvement in that conspiracy to murder Ibrahem.

Police are appealing for information about this silver Ford Territory with registration AQ 58 ES, which was seen near a North Sydney apartment block in the lead up to an alleged failed assassination attempt of Ibrahem Hamze on August 14, 2021.

A fourth man, Alameddine heavyweight Masood Zakaria, is wanted over the incident but is believed to have fled overseas to avoid law enforcement.

In the CCTV footage, the Ford, Mercedes and Honda can be seen closely following residents’ cars into the underground garage of the apartment block.

On a number of occasions the vehicles can be seen failing to enter the carpark in time before the roller door shuts, leaving them with no choice but to reverse back and try again later.

Police are appealing for information about the silver Ford Territory, with registration AQ 58 ES, which remains outstanding.

Masood Zakaria is wanted over the incident but is believed to be overseas. Picture: Supplied

The other three cars have been recovered.

Police allege the Mercedes sedan seen in the North Sydney footage was also involved early in the preparation stages of the murder of Bilal Hamze – Ibrahem’s older brother – in the CBD on Thursday, June 17.

“The images we have released today are taken from an address in North Sydney and show several vehicles of interest visiting the location multiple times between 25 July and 14 August 2021,” Det Supt Doherty said.

“On each occasion, we believe the people inside these cars intended to murder their target, who was residing in that building at the time.”

Ibrahem Hamze is currently behind bars on remand having been charged over his alleged involvement in a separate public place shooting, which Det Supt Doherty said police allege “is related to the same conflict”.