Earth-moving machinery stolen near Sarina this month.
Organised crime gangs are stealing heavy equipment from Queensland mine sites as the two-speed economy sees a spike in car thefts, the Crime and Misconduct Commission has revealed.
In a special report outlining strategies to combat escalating car and property theft, the CMC reveals that gangs have begun to focus on Queensland's mining industry.
Millions of dollars worth of equipment has been stolen in the past 12 months, and the crime watchdog estimates 40 per cent of the thefts can be attributed to organised crime organisations.
A pair of excavators that were stolen in Rockhampton.
The CMC attributes the rise in heavy equipment theft to Queensland's mining boom and poor security.
"Stakeholders suggested that the increase in thefts could be attributed in part to the mining boom and associated infrastructure projects in Queensland," the CMC report says.
"Certainly, the expansion of the mining and construction industries creates a larger market for stolen heavy equipment, in terms of both supply and demand."
CMC assistant commissioner of crime Kathleen Florian said much of the equipment was left in isolated locations, which were "quite often not secure".
"It also does not have to registered in many instances," she told Fairfax Media.
Ms Florian warned mining companies to be aware that crime gangs were deliberately looking to infiltrate their businesses.
"We do have evidence that organised crime group members and associates have been directly employed in the mining industry and that organised crime has actively sought out connections to get inside information and to get access to sites," she sad.
"We have a number of intelligence instances where this has been identified."
Ms Florian said mine companies should use micro-dot surveillance, "whole of life" equipment registration and GPS trackers to make equipment safer.
The CMC study shows Queensland's mines are seen as "soft targets" with this crime likely to increase.
"Organised networks may view Queensland (and the other eastern states) as a more attractive target, because they perceive it is easier to transport stolen equipment from Queensland to interstate and overseas markets," the report says.
"Assuming that Queensland's mining and construction industries continue to grow over the next few years, it is likely that these thefts will continue to increase."
Heavy equipment thefts increased from 132 in 2007 to 231 in 2011 – an increase of 75 per cent – with regional Queensland heaviest hit, according to police reports.
"Although these thefts occur throughout the state; Toowoomba, Dalby, Mackay and Rockhampton police districts were particular hotspots," the report says.
"Not surprisingly, organised groups are targeting areas around farming communities, mines and major infrastructure projects because of the concentration of heavy equipment in those places."
Ms Florian said criminals were "well-connected" in the wrecking and second hand parts industries and were now targeting mining industries.
"There are also suggestions that the expansion of the mining and construction industries in Queensland has helped to create a large and often vulnerable market for stolen heavy equipment," she said.
"And it's possible that offences are being committed to fill orders for specific equipment and parts."
The report also warns Queensland's two-speed economy could lead to a further increase in car theft and heavy equipment crimes.
"Specifically, the two-speed economy could be encouraging some unemployed individuals and marginal small businesses with links to the motor vehicle industry – for example, smash repairers and metal recyclers – to engage in or facilitate organised theft and rebirthing," it says.
The report also finds that outlaw motorcycle gangs and well-known family networks are involved in Queensland's stolen car market.
"In either case, it is rare for vehicle theft and rebirthing to be the offenders' sole focus — they are usually also involved in other criminal activities, including illicit drugs, boat theft and rebirthing, and heavy equipment theft."
Stolen cars are "re-birthed" by being given clean vehicle identification details, to make them appear legitimate and able to be re-sold.
The CMC have two recent examples of how the car thefts are linked to other criminal activities.
In the first example it reported links between the sales of "muscle cars" and stolen car markets.
"In 2011, the QPS made arrests in a long-term investigation into a major vehicle theft and rebirthing syndicate that had been operating for several years between southeast Queensland and New South Wales," the report finds.
"The offenders especially targeted classic cars, attending 'muscle car' shows and rallies to identify vehicles to steal. Property stolen by the syndicate included classic Ford and Holden utes, classic Holden Toranas, Land Cruisers, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a caravan and a boat."
In the second example, it reports how in 2010 a drug distribution network operating throughout in Queensland's north coast region used stolen and "rebirthed" vehicles, boats and construction equipment on a large scale scale.
The report also focuses on the reasons behind increasing boat and copper thefts.
It finds organised boat theft has increased rapidly on the Gold Coast, largely because boat security is easy to beat.
"This probably reflects the relatively large number of boats in the region and the fact that it is perceived to be easier to transport stolen boats interstate from southeast Queensland," the study finds.
"Many boats stolen in Queensland are eventually located interstate, especially in New South Wales."
