A failed home invasion at radio personality Kent “Smallzy” Small’s multimillion-dollar Hunters Hill property has highlighted ongoing security concerns in the affluent suburb.
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Four masked individuals armed with large hunting knives attempted to break into the Nova presenter’s $3.7 million five-bedroom home at 2:30am Tuesday. The intruders, captured on Ring doorbell camera footage, were unable to gain entry to the property where Small and his partner Zach La Cava were sleeping.
The incident adds to Hunters Hill’s growing security challenges. The exclusive suburb, known for its heritage-listed properties and wealthy residents, has seen an increase in targeted break-ins. Small reported that the same group also attempted to enter a neighbor’s property the same night.
This attempted burglary follows a broader trend across Sydney. According to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data, more than 8,000 homes across Greater Sydney experienced break-ins during the last financial year, with over 20,000 incidents reported statewide in the 12 months to March 2024 – marking a four-year high.
Small purchased his Hunters Hill property at auction in March 2020. The radio host has since used his platform to warn listeners about home security, urging them to “lock it down like Fort Knox” following his own frightening experience.
Read: Gladesville Attack Preceded Police Officer’s Alleged Data Breaches
A NSW Police spokesperson was unable to confirm specific details about the incident when contacted by media.
Published 10-February-2025
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Suspended NSW Police constable John Paul Vassallo, charged with multiple data breaches, suffered a stabbing attack in Gladesville that preceded the majority of his alleged unauthorised database access, Penrith Local Court heard on Monday.
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The November 2021 Gladesville incident, where Vassallo was stabbed in the head by Zubair Joarder while responding to a siege, was highlighted during his bail hearing. Court documents show that following this attack, Vassallo allegedly accessed the NSW Police COPS database without authorisation approximately 600 times.
His attorney Hisham Karnib presented evidence of Vassallo’s ongoing PTSD treatment stemming from the Gladesville attack. Joarder was sentenced in August 2023 to six years imprisonment with a three-year non-parole period.
The 29-year-old officer faces 11 charges, including misconduct in public office and unauthorised access to restricted data. Prosecutors allege he searched for information about bikie gang members, persons of interest in a Marrickville shooting, and various personal associates.
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Magistrate Brian van Zuylen granted bail with conditions including a $10,000 surety and restrictions on accessing police systems. The case continues at Sydney’s Downing Centre in March.
Published 13-January-2025
