Shire Tech Bro Entrepreneur Invents App to Monetise Local Sirens Panic – Helicopter Tracker Included

Guille Will Fernandez | Guest Editor | Sutherland Shire Gazette

9 April 2025

CRONULLA — After one too many sleepless nights wondering whether that late-night siren was “a crash or a cat stuck in a drain,” a local entrepreneur has unveiled Shire Emergency Updates — a $400-a-month subscription app designed to keep locals in the loop whenever things go “wee-woo” nearby.

The app promises live siren alerts, POLAIR helicopter tracking, drone movement logs, and “potentially related speculation” sourced directly from group chats, Facebook communities and Reddit.

For an extra $50, subscribers can unlock Neighbour Panic Mode, which sends a push notification every time someone on your street posts “anyone else hear that?”

“People around here love two things,” said the creator from Cronulla. “Knowing what the police are doing, and not being left out of the neighbourhood drama. I just gave them both — with a push notification.”

A recent update also added an AI-enhanced Chopper Tracker, which estimates where the police helicopter is hovering and whether it’s searching for a fugitive, a lost kayak, or just enjoying the view over Gymea.

Early User Reviews:

• “Got a siren alert at 2:14am that just said ‘Ambulance? Maybe.’ Worth every cent.” – Jason, Cronulla

• “I finally know the difference between fire trucks and crime vans. My anxiety has never been more informed.” – Caitlin, Caringbah South

• “Said there was a drone over Menai. It was a bat. But I appreciated the heads up.” – Rob, Menai

While some are calling it a revolution in hyperlocal panic delivery, others have dubbed it “Nextdoor with a police scanner and a crippling subscription fee.”

The Gazette understands a cheaper, ad-supported version may be in the works — though the ads will mostly be for home CCTV bundles, floodlights, and panic rooms.

Local sirens app