Car-parts racket costs GMH $2.5m

csv8 · 30-06-2012, 11:37 PM

Car-parts racket costs GMH $2.5m

by: Nigel Hunt From: The Sunday Mail (Qld) July 01, 2012 12:00AM

AUSTRALIA'S largest car manufacturer has been the victim of an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar theft racket involving some of its own employees.

Car parts totalling $2.5 million, including hundreds of V8 motors and transmissions, have been stolen from the GMH plant at Elizabeth in South Australia.

Police believe the stolen goods have been sold both through car clubs in Adelaide and along the east coast of Australia and on internet sites such as eBay.

Investigations have led them to Queensland.

The hi-tech V8 motors, which are fitted to the latest model VE Commodores, retail for around $10,000 each through dealers but were being sold for as little as $1500 on the black market.

SA police have been investigating since January, questioning several people employed at the GMH plant and raiding separate properties.

Detective Superintendent Peter Harvey confirmed the investigation, code-named operation Echidna.

It's understood it was launched after detectives uncovered a V8 engine, later found to be stolen from Elizabeth, during an unrelated inquiry.

The thefts have highlighted a major deficiency in GMH's inventory handling, with the car-maker unaware of the scale of the thefts until alerted by police.

Sources said the investigation had so far recovered several stolen engines and a large number of automatic and manual transmissions.

It is understood detectives have discovered how the engines and transmissions were removed from the plant - which is equipped with security checkpoints for trucks and vehicles entering and exiting - and this has been the focal point for police.

Sources said there was "no effective tracking system" to ensure that each of the major components delivered to the plant were actually used.

In March this year, GMH received a $275 million bailout from the state and federal governments to ensure its operations remained opened at Elizabeth.

GMH corporate affairs manager in South Australia Sean Poppitt said he could not discuss the issue because of the ongoing investigation.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/c...-1226413245208

pottery beige · 30-06-2012, 11:51 PM

hahahaha.. they have only just realised this.... been going on for ears...

burnz · 01-07-2012, 04:50 AM

has to be managment in this, they know how many V8 commo's are sold verses inventory.

Motorbreath310 · 01-07-2012, 05:37 AM

I wish someone had told me I could get an l98 for $1500!

pottery beige · 01-07-2012, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

I wish someone had told me I could get an l98 for $1500!

got two left.. $1800 each..

pottery beige · 01-07-2012, 05:55 AM

*only jokes policemans..

XARATE · 01-07-2012, 05:56 AM

^^^ do you take western union transfer?

pottery beige · 01-07-2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XARATE

^^^ do you take western union transfer?

be so friendly kind if my agent will contact you..

Jim Goose · 01-07-2012, 08:48 AM

I can understand maybe small ticket items dissappearing... but complete engines?

Shows that people in stock control/ warehouse area are very trustworthy...
Then again, it is Elizabeth we are talking about.

(A cool game we played when i was driving there a few months ago was... spot the Commodore with matching panels!)

XRtowcar · 01-07-2012, 08:49 AM

Remember when I was younger living near the Broady Ford factory, there was a lot of LTD spec Pioneer radios kicking about the area.
Think they went to bar coding them to create some trace ability.
Supply seemed to dry up after that.

Morexbs · 01-07-2012, 10:21 AM

How the hell do you get something that big out the gate without being busted (and more than once)??

pottery beige · 01-07-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

I can understand maybe small ticket items dissappearing... but complete engines?

Shows that people in stock control/ warehouse area are very trustworthy...
Then again, it is Elizabeth we are talking about.

(A cool game we played when i was driving there a few months ago was... spot the Commodore with matching panels!)

nice stereotyping jim.. for a start most of the bums in elissbeff dont get out of bed before 2pm let alone wakeup and go to work at holdens....

did i just stereotype..

BHDOGS · 01-07-2012, 10:24 AM

my mate drives a forklift in the inventory section maybe ill see him on a slow speed chase later being followed by cops with a v8 engine on the front of his forklift hahaha

KR1STO · 01-07-2012, 10:32 AM

Now if only I could find a Coyote engine for $1500..

Anybody know anybody who knows someone who knows how to get a few out of Ford..?

hahah

prydey · 01-07-2012, 10:33 AM

forgive me if i don't see the funny side.

**Dave R** · 01-07-2012, 10:33 AM

I like how they call the V8 high tech...

FTE · 01-07-2012, 10:41 AM

Hi tech coz of the displacement on demand.

pottery beige · 01-07-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

I like how they call the V8 high tech...

no carby..

Matty4 · 01-07-2012, 10:51 AM

10 years or so ago I was involved in a investigation of a theft racket at Toyota in Altona of their top of line line DVD/Nav units. They were removed in bulk and then out of the country the next day.

Toyota knew about it and had a "fund" set aside to cover this. It was cheaper for them to turn a blind eye than have have the Union step in and run stoppages on the production line.

Nikked · 01-07-2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

no carby..

Made out of that illuminum stuff that they make planes out of..

RASER · 01-07-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

I like how they call the V8 high tech...

That my friend, is THE best mass production V8 on the planet.

I wonder who/which country really designed it though?

RASER · 01-07-2012, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnz

has to be managment in this, they know how many V8 commo's are sold verses inventory.

+1

Not upper management, but somebody along the food-chain has been printing phony parts dept. orders/invoices.

Only a matter of time till the numbers/quantity would not be correct

I knew of a guy who worked at SimsMetal in Broady metal recyclers who use to fish out all the FoA delivered faulty/2nds parts, clean them up, and resell, he got done too

JAIL [not gaol] for all offenders, its crime and should be punished

Nikked · 01-07-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

That my friend, is THE best mass production V8 on the planet.

I wonder who/which country really designed it though?

Actually, Fords coyote is...and according to wards, no GM V8's have been...always bettered by Ford, Chrysler, BMW etc...

**thefargo** · 01-07-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

(A cool game we played when i was driving there a few months ago was... spot the Commodore with matching panels!)

'matching panels'?? is that special factory order? I don't think they produce that as standard

**Dave R** · 01-07-2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RASER

That my friend, is THE best mass production V8 on the planet.

I wonder who/which country really designed it though?

It's a good motor, but calling a simpleton GM pushrod V8 "high tech" in 2012 is pretty funny.

I'd also rate the N/A 5.0 coyote over a GM V8 any day of the week.

**DJM83** · 01-07-2012, 12:13 PM

6.2L focus.....
Many lols though

Reaper8 · 01-07-2012, 12:21 PM

self funding their superannuation or just recovering the low pay packet they accepted for a couple of years. looks like holdens security contract wont be renewed with mss.

prydey · 01-07-2012, 12:25 PM

as funny as some people find this, the property stolen will always remain the property of holden/gm, so just be wary if you come across any 'bargains' on ebay etc. if a car has a nice fresh engine in it etc, just use caution if you are looking to buy.

police have ways of tracking things down and if they do, it won't matter how much money got handed over, the object will be repossessed.

buickman · 01-07-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty4

10 years or so ago I was involved in a investigation of a theft racket at Toyota in Altona of their top of line line DVD/Nav units. They were removed in bulk and then out of the country the next day.

Toyota knew about it and had a "fund" set aside to cover this. It was cheaper for them to turn a blind eye than have have the Union step in and run stoppages on the production line.

I would not blame the union if that was the issue more the case of inept management and the untrustworthy employees involved. No wonder Toyota recently had a cleanout if that was going on. Stealing of the hand that feeds and pay's your bills is a low act

RASER · 01-07-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

It's a good motor, but calling a simpleton GM pushrod V8 "high tech" in 2012 is pretty funny.

No need for hi-tech, push-rods keep it very very compact, has the runs on the board, all 100 million of them.

Gap will widen to the others, direct-injection is fitted to GEN5, out in 2013

http://media.gm.com/autoshows/small_...100M_GenV.html

Least thats 1 good thing to come from TeamGM