Multi-million dollar stolen parts racket continues to put trade at risk.

Organised criminals continue to expose the trade to police scrutiny with a steady influx of stolen car parts into the legitimate supply chain. Director Code of Practice National Parts Code Nick Koerbin said the rort is estimated to cost the community more than $300 million dollars a year and warned the trade against purchasing parts for repair of vehicles from sources that could not guarantee their origin. “Opportunistic criminals who are using the legitimate supply chain to distribute stolen parts can ruin your business,” he said. “Not only that, but they can put you under police suspicion.” Mr Koerbin said the authorities were able to identify some stolen parts through the use of microdots and other identifiers. He said police had the ability to confiscate the vehicle and press charges against anyone in possession of stolen motor vehicle parts. “Many guys out there on the shop floor are tyring to do the right thing by their customers by using the most affordable parts available and often these are recycled parts,” he said. “The only trouble is many of them are not aware they may be using stolen parts.”

Variations in state legislation had opened up the market to criminals, Mr Koerbin said. “A car might be stolen in one state, stripped, put in a container and sent to another state because there are not the same legislative requirements for traceability,” he said. “So what we’re seeing is different state legislation opening up opportunities for organised criminals to present their parts within the supply chain.” Mr Koerbin said there had been a reduction in stolen motor vehicles but the unrecovered rate of cars remained relatively high. “This points to a possibility of vehicles stolen for two things: The stripping of parts or to be sold in scrap metal yards,” he said. A way to avoid becoming vulnerable was to source parts from the not for profit National Parts Code participants throughout Australia who guarantee their parts were not stolen, he said. “That way there’s no need to worry because the accountability of ensuring that the part is legitimate lies with the code participants, he said. For a list of participants, visit www.partscode.com.au

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