A primary school in Sydney’s upper north shore has issued an urgent safety advisory to parents, urging them to stop letting their children walk home unaccompanied, following a frightening attempted abduction of a student earlier this week. The incident, which unfolded around 3:15 p.m. Monday on Campbell Drive in Wahroonga, has sent ripples of concern through the tight-knit community of Warrawee Public School, which educates roughly 400 students between the ages of 4 and 11.
In a circular email sent to all families on Tuesday, obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald, acting deputy principal Meriki Barnes outlined the allegations: two male youths in a passing car attempted to force a student walking home off the street and into their vehicle. The child managed to break free from the attackers and quickly alerted their guardians once they reached safety, the email confirmed.
New South Wales Police have officially launched an investigation into the incident. Law enforcement has released a preliminary description of the suspect vehicle, noting it is a silver or light white sedan, likely fitted with red P-plates indicating a newly licensed driver. As detectives work through initial leads, they are calling on members of the public who were in the area at the time to come forward with any relevant footage, including CCTV from homes or businesses, mobile phone recordings, or dashcam footage captured across nearby streets — including Roland Avenue, Lucinda Avenue South, Rothwell Road, Mitchell Crescent and Fox Valley Way. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000.
In their official statement, police emphasized that the incident serves as a critical reminder for young people to maintain ongoing awareness of personal safety practices, most importantly to immediately report any suspicious interactions to trusted adults. Authorities also noted that parents and caregivers play a key role in reinforcing these habits through regular open conversations with their children.
In line with the police advisory, Warrawee Public School has updated its guidance for families, asking that all caregivers collect their children directly from the school gate and hold conversations about protective safety behaviors at home. “We ask all families to review their child’s travel arrangements to and from school to ensure the highest possible level of safety at this time,” the school’s email read.
Local parents have voiced significant anxiety over the incident, which has upended routine travel plans for many families. One parent, who requested anonymity to protect their child’s privacy, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the community is on edge. “This is the main route that dozens of kids take to walk home every day — the idea that it isn’t safe right now is terrifying,” they said. Another parent added that he is already reconsidering his longstanding permission for his 10-year-old son to make the walk to and from campus alone.
This is not the first suspicious incident targeting children at the school in recent years. Last July, the school’s on-site after-care centre issued a similar warning to families after an unidentified adult male approached a child and attempted to convince them to leave with him. That child also immediately alerted staff, who contacted police right away, and no harm came to the student.