Queensland detectives say a highly organised group targeted Land Cruisers and Prados across Brisbane by using technology to take vehicles without keys and hide them in shipping containers.
Queensland Police say about 60 Toyota Land Cruisers and Prados worth around $9 million were stolen across the Brisbane region between October 20 and December 1 which triggers a major investigation into what detectives allege was an international operation to move the vehicles offshore for profit.
Police allege the group sent shipping containers containing stolen vehicles from Brisbane to the United Arab Emirates and that the thefts were carried out using high tech methods that allowed vehicles to be taken quickly from homes and driveways.
In November, police established Operation Xray Lox after a spike in thefts before a breakthrough on December 2 when officers traced a stolen LandCruiser to a wrecking yard at Rocklea and found two vehicles concealed in a shipping container behind other parts it was said by Detective Inspector Paul Dalton.
Over the following week, police seized another two shipping containers from the Port of Brisbane and recovered four vehicles and on December 12 a further four containers were located in Melbourne with Australian Border Force assistance.
Detective Inspector Dalton said that “This was a highly organised, well disciplined and very sophisticated international syndicate.”
Five of the seven men, ages 28 to 45 have been placed under remand in custody after being charged with over 380 offences including several counts of theft and attempted theft.
Police say 15 vehicles have been recovered and investigators believe the remaining vehicles are likely no longer in Australia.
The alleged offending has sharpened scrutiny on the way modern vehicles can be compromised. CarExpert reported police allegations that offenders accessed vehicles through the car’s internal electronics allowing control without a key and in some cases disabling tracking.
The case of Cleveland resident Kali Hodge whose LandCruiser 300 Series was taken from her driveway in November while the family slept after thieves used a drill to access the vehicle’s electrical system before pushing it out and driving away.
Toyota Australia said it was aware of an increase in thefts using rapidly evolving technologies and was working with authorities with adding in a statement that “Our teams are collaborating with police to identify and combat the latest methods being used by criminals.”
Police have said companies moving the containers were doing so legitimately and without knowledge of what was inside and the investigation drew on cooperation with federal agencies and interstate authorities.
Queensland Police advise the public not to confront suspected offenders or try to intercept vehicles.
The service says Triple Zero should be used only if the theft is happening now and Policelink can be used for non-urgent reporting while information can also be provided via Crime Stoppers.
