Alleged international car theft ring targetted Toyota LandCruisers and Prados in Australia

By Molly Slattery for ABC News

A group of foreign nationals have been charged by Australian police after allegedly flying into Brisbane as part of an organised operation targeting the theft of four-wheel drives to be shipped overseas.

Queensland Police said 60 Toyota LandCruisers and Prados worth about $9 million were stolen in the Brisbane region between October 20 and December 1.

"Police allege in October last year a group of foreign nationals flew into Brisbane and commenced an organised operation targeting the theft of certain brands of Toyota models, including LandCruisers and Prados," Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said.

Police will further allege the syndicate sent a number of shipping containers with the stolen vehicles inside from Brisbane to the United Arab Emirates to be sold for profit as second-hand vehicles.

In November police established Operation Xray Lox in response to a spike in vehicle thefts.

Detective Inspector Dalton said a crime scene was established at a Rocklea wrecking yard on 2 December where officers found two allegedly stolen LandCruisers in a shipping container, which had been concealed behind other motor vehicle parts.

Over the following week, another two shipping containers were seized from the Port of Brisbane, with four vehicles recovered.

On 12 December, a further four shipping containers were located in Melbourne with the assistance of Australian Border Force.

"This was a highly organised, well-disciplined and very sophisticated international syndicate that was operating in the greater Brisbane area," Detective Inspector Dalton said.

"They were targeting the theft of vehicles for their own personal gain."

The seven men, from countries including Brasil, Fiji, Japan and Afghanistan have been charged with more than 380 offences.

Detective Acting Inspector Russell Joyce said police would allege the companies that were moving the shipping containers were doing so legitimately and without the knowledge of what was inside.

Detective Acting Inspector Joyce said investigations were continuing into why Brisbane was targeted.

"I don't believe we were necessarily a soft target, I believe we were an opportunity," he said.

Police have recovered 15 of the vehicles and continue to work to locate the remaining 45 vehicles which they believe are no longer in the country.

Four of the men, aged 45, 44, 40 and 29, have each been charged with 60 counts of stealing of a vehicle, and six counts of attempted stealing of a vehicle. They were all remanded in custody.

A 28-year-old man has been charged with 17 counts of stealing of a vehicle and was remanded in custody, while a 31-year-old man has been charged with 32 counts of stealing of a vehicle.

A 40-year-old man has been charged with two counts of stealing of a vehicle.

The are all due to appear in court later this month.

4WD taken 'in a matter of seconds'

Kali Hodge had her LandCruiser 300 Series stolen from her driveway in Cleveland, on Brisbane's bayside, in November.

The mother of two said the thieves drilled into the side of the vehicle to gain access while the family was asleep inside their home.

"It was all over in a matter of seconds, they stole it in less than a minute," she said.

CCTV footage shows a pair arriving at the home on Coburg Street East in Cleveland, just before midnight on 20 November.

A drill was used to gain access to the Toyota's electric system before the duo pushed the car out of the driveway and made off with it, Hodge said.

"We worked so hard for that car, to lose it like that was just devastating," Ms Hodge said.

Hodge's LandCruiser, worth more than $120,000, has been recovered.

"We got a call from a detective in Victoria, he told us they'd found our car in a shipping container at the port in Melbourne," Hodge said.

A spokesperson for Toyota said they were aware of an increase in vehicle thefts using "rapidly evolving" technologies.

"This is a serious issue, and we are actively working with law enforcement authorities to combat these crimes," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"Our teams are collaborating with police to identify and combat the latest methods being used by criminals. Given the pace of technological change, we are continuously reviewing and updating our vehicle security features to prevent theft."

The spokesperson said Toyota Australia had established a team working with Toyota Global and distributors to find suitable solutions.

"We will continue to develop and update vehicle theft protection measures and proactively work with the authorities to combat these serious crimes."

- ABC News