A 20-year-old French national has been charged following an alleged jewellery theft at a store in Mona Vale, with police later arresting him in Chatswood.
Necklace Attempt Sparks Suspicion In Mona Vale
The incident occurred at about 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at Tradewind Jewellery on Bungan Street, Mona Vale. A man entered the store and asked to view a gold necklace.
While trying on the item, the store owner reportedly became concerned about the man’s behaviour. Police allege the man then attempted to leave the store wearing the necklace without making payment.
A brief scuffle followed before the man allegedly ran from the store and entered a vehicle waiting nearby, which then drove off.
Getaway Car Leads Police To Chatswood
The matter was reported immediately, prompting officers to attend the scene, establish a crime scene, and canvass the area.
Police later identified the vehicle allegedly used in the incident and tracked it to Chatswood. Detectives located the vehicle and traced the man to a shop in the area, where he was arrested.
Police allege the stolen gold necklace was found in his pocket at the time of the arrest.
Charges Filed And Court Appearance Scheduled
The man was taken to Chatswood Police Station and charged with one count of larceny. He was also charged with driving a motor vehicle without ever having held a licence.
He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Manly Local Court on Thursday, 9 April 2026. Bail conditions include the surrender of his passport.
The recovered necklace is being held by police and is expected to be returned to the store owner.
Earlier Mona Vale Incident Shows Similar Pattern
A similar incident was reported at another jewellery store in Mona Vale in recent months. In that case, a man allegedly entered Gold ’n’ Things, tried on a ring valued at about $5,000, and left the store without paying before getting into a waiting vehicle.
Case To Proceed Before Court
The matter is set to proceed before the court on the scheduled date, where the charges will be formally considered.
Published 26-Mar-2026
