The award for IAATI Investigation of the Year is provided not on the volume or value of stolen vehicles seized, but rather on the innovation and long-term impact that may result from enquiries made.

Judges this year were asked to consider the following criteria:

• Reduction in vehicle crime;
• Efficiency in light of available resources and sustainability / long-term impact;
• Innovation demonstrated by investigators;
• Increased information and / or intelligence for MVT stakeholders;
• Strategic solutions implemented (eg. legislative, administrative, training etc.); and / or
• Elements of “best practice” in the investigation or initiatives.

Winner of the 2005 IAATI Investigation of the Year Award:  Jeff Haynes (Waitakere CIB, NZ Police)

The 2006 IAATI Investigation of the Year is sponsored by IAG. This investigation was conducted by a police officer that has exceptional skills in Vehicle theft investigations. Since 2003 he has been responsible for the recovery of 267 vehicles, valued at around 2.8 million dollars and resulting in the identification of around 70% of offenders. 

In November 2004 Senior Constable Jeffrey Haynes was contacted by VTNZ in relation to Toyota Surf. After inspecting the vehicle it was confirmed that the chassis number had been welded into the firewall and chassis rails.

L-R: Lisa Young (Branch Vice President), Jeff Haynes (NZ Police), Harry Rakintzis (Branch Vice President)

He then identified the owner of the vehicle and conducted background searches on all the vehicles owned and sold by this person. As a result another Toyota Surf was identified that had been altered in similar fashion. A search warrant was executed on the suspect’s factory in Helensville where upon attendance the suspect was caught swapping the body of a stolen 2002 Hilux onto the chassis of a damaged Toyota.

As a result of this investigation 14 stolen cars were identified with a value of $474,000. The suspect denied stealing any of these cars but admitted to receiving them. He has been charged with 23 offences.

In addition to the winner, three Certificates of Recognition were presented in the Investigation of the Year category.  They included:

Certificate of Merit:  Mark Bennedick

The first Certificate of Merit in this category goes to a private investigator based in Queensland. In 2004, Mark Bennedick was contracted by Maurice Kerrigan  & Associates to investigate the theft of an 11 day old Holden Monaro.

The vehicle was recovered as a total loss after being involved in a single vehicle accident in the early hours of the morning. While Police inspecting the vehicle  noted that the vehicle contained a number of personal effects including the Insured’s wallet containing his credit cards, driver’s license and cash, no further enquiries were made by law enforcement.

Insurance enquiries were referred to Mark Bennedick, who observed that the vehicle did not appear to have sustained ignition damage, and the Insured was later able to produce both sets of keys.

The evidence obtained by Bennedick was not disputed by the Insured, and the claim for $70,000 was successfully refused. Moreover, the dispute resolution process was not triggered at any time.

Maurice Kerrigan & Associates attribute much of the success of this investigation to a reliance on information, knowledge and skills Mark Bennedick learned via IAATI training seminars.

Certificate of Merit:  Detective Keith Schmidt (QPOL) & NRMA Insurance

The next certificate has been issued to a joint investigation between QLD police and NRMA Insurance Investigations. Coralea Cameron from NRMA Insurance managed an investigation into a stolen 1997 Toyota Troopcarrier station wagon. This vehicle was allegedly stolen from Coogee Beach, NSW.

The NRMA customer claimed that he purchased the vehicle from a person known as Brian Jackson who attended the caryard owned by the offender’s brother. ‘Jackson’ was allegedly returning to the UK and wanted to sell the vehicle. He also stated that the vehicle has travelled around Australia and was fully reconditioned.

After receiving documents and carrying out enquiries with the offender Corelea identified numerous concerns. A major concern was that Jackson had purchased a 1997 Landcruiser from Fowles Auction 2 months prior to the theft. Thiess Mining previously owned the car and these vehicles are generally known to be in poor condition. Another concern was the purchase price of $12000 against the price nominated by the offender $35,000. NRMA also identified a previous vehicle that was stolen from the offender. The purchase details were very similar except the person who sold the car was a Brian Harrison.

As a result of this the file was referred by John O’Byrne to Keith Schmidt of QLDPOL. Keith’s investigation identified the following:

The offender had purchased numerous cars from Auction yards under false names. These cars were then transferred into the name of the caryard.

A warrant executed on the caryard found the windscreen of the stolen car.

Photos of the stolen vehicle supplied to NRMA depicted a 78 series Landcruiser whereas the vehicle should have been a 75 series.

The offender was charged for the deception against Suncorp and NRMA. As a result he pleaded guilty and agreed to pay back $11,000 to Suncorp and received 6 months suspended sentence and a $20,000 fine for the NRMA fraud. The judge made a point that the $20,000 would have been the profit margin of the claim.  

Certificate of Merit:  Operation MECCANO – NZ Police

Beginning with informant information, the next Certificate of Merit goes to a member of NZ Police following successful enquiries into the ringing (or rebirthing) of stolen Toyota Hilux vehicles in the Bay of Plenty.

The information described the extensive rebirthing of 4WDs by a number of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs including the Murupara Tribesman, Filthy Few Motorcycle Gang and others. The central figure was a commercial 4WD wrecker.

The Detective expanded the initial information to identify further wholesale offending down in Christchurch and Blenheim of the South Island. Much of the enquiry work was quite painstaking and required much attention to detail in the locating and analysis of computer records.

Enquiries also required assistance from numerous outside agencies, which included a strong working relationship with Toyota.

After many months of painstaking work, the key target was prosecuted with 27 offences including receiving vehicles and fraudulently altering vehicles that were sold to unsuspecting buyers for profit. IN April 2005, the target WALLS received 2 years imprisonment and reparation in excess of $56,000 payable to insurers. WALLS secondhand dealers licence was also revoked.

The fun continues….since the Proceeds of Crime Unit have a restraining order over WALLS house and farm, and the unsuspecting buyers have taken civil action that could cost between $60 to $70K.