The honour of the Investigation of the Year Award this year went to NSW Police Property Crime Squad – Strike Force Burindi. This award recognised the team's outstanding work in detecting and
breaking a network of organised motor vehicle re-birthing operating in the Sydney Metro area. As part of a strategic surveillance operation, Strike Force Burindi identified a target location suspected
to be involved in motor vehicle theft and obtained and executed a search warrant. The outcome of that warrant led to the recovery of over 1,000 exhibits of stolen property – vehicles in various state of dismantling, tyres, parts. This discovery led to the identification of further individuals and businesses involved in being sent overseas, and the identification of a relatively new modus operandi of the network.

Through inter-agency co-operation, Strike Force Burindi were able to achieve a fantastic result, and make multiple charges relating to auto crime against four individuals, as well as disrupting a highly active vehicle crime network.

Many thanks to the judges who helped determine the winner of this year’s Investigation of the Year - Ray Carroll (Executive Director National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council); Brett Florence (Detective Senior Constable, Victoria Police, Organised Motor Vehicle Theft Unit); and Allan Bewley (Senior Policy Officer, South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure).

International President Heidi Jordan with members of NSW Police Strike Force Burindi