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Gang of car thieves on the loose in Australia – and they’ve already stolen more than $460,000 worth of car parts in a month
Catalytic converter theft is widespread on the Gold Coast
Cop operation launched after 70 within a month
Camera images show how quickly brutal thieves work
Devices valuable because of precious metals
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Shocking footage has emerged of brazen thieves stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in a spate of robberies at car yards and car parks in south-east Queensland.
In recent months, the thieves in Gold Coast and Brisbane stole more than $460,000 worth of exhaust emission control equipment.
Up to 70 catalytic converter thefts were reported in February alone, sparking a two-month police operation.
Detectives have released CCTV footage to show how calculating the ‘motivated’ thieves are and how quickly the burglaries are carried out in minutes.
The footage shows a car entering a gas station in Southport shortly before 1 a.m. on February 13 and parking near a Toyota Ute.
Detectives are on the hunt to track down these brazen thieves who stole catalytic converters from a car parked at a Southport petrol station in the early hours of February 13.
After a quick search of the car, a man gets out and returns to the car to talk to his accomplices and open the trunk.
The trio thoroughly searched the ute for the next few minutes before stealing the catalytic converter and license plates which were then placed in the trunk of their car.
The trio make a quick getaway as the car pulls away less than four minutes later.
Police suspect the men may be the same group responsible for a robbery that occurred six days earlier, 7 km away at a car garage in Newheath Drive, Arundel, at the same time of the morning.
Three men entered the property by cutting through the fence and stealing nine soot spreaders worth $156,000.
Additional CCTV footage has also been released of a man who police believe could help them in their investigation into the two thefts mentioned above.
The footage shows a man in a Springfield Central hardware store around 7:40 p.m. on Feb. 7, five hours before the Arundel car theft.
The trio was caught on CCTV stealing a catalytic converter and license plates from a Toyota ute before making a quick getaway
Police believe the man in the photo at a hardware store could help with their investigation into two thefts on the Gold Coast
Police recently charged two men and a teenager for the alleged theft of the catalytic converters following the two-month Operation Victor Virgae.
But detectives suspect an organized group of like-minded individuals are working together to commit the crimes.
Catalyst thefts have soared worldwide in recent years due to the growing value of precious metals.
Catalysts, also known as “cats,” contain rhodium and platinum, which can be worth more than gold and are sold by thieves for significant profit.
Chief Inspector Geoff Sheldon described the offenders as highly motivated and trained in what they do, targeting car yards and places where cars and trucks are parked overnight.
The brutal thieves are armed with the specific tools they need to remove the catalytic converters in a matter of minutes, a task the average Aussie wouldn’t be able to accomplish quickly.
In February alone, up to 70 catalytic converter thefts were reported in south-east Queensland. Pictured is CCTV of the February 13 incident
“They’re able to get in, get under cars and get the stuff out from under cars, and the first thing you know is you start your car and it sounds like a truck,” Supt Sheldon told the ABC.
“They get in, duck under, cut off what they need, and they’re gone.”
“As we turn over more rocks, they run so far away from us that they discover other people involved and discover the length and breadth of the network.”
Two men, ages 23 and 18, and a teenage boy, age 16, are currently in court as detectives ramp up their investigation.
“We will continue to focus on this type of property theft and our officers remain focused on investigating and taking action against anyone involved in the catalytic converter theft,” Detective Senior Sergeant Flood added.
Queensland Police are urging anyone with information to contact Policelink on 131 444.
Police suspect the trio could be part of an organized group of like-minded individuals working together to steal catalytic converters
Queensland Police release footage of catalytic converters being stolen across the Gold Coast