POLICE have unveiled a hit list of the Gold Coast's most violent armed robberies to be targeted by the region's special new taskforce.
Eight brazen robberies on the Coast have been identified as top priority for Taskforce Resolve, which was formed in the wake of the shooting death of Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding during a botched hold-up almost a fortnight ago.
Taskforce Resolve aims to combat the growing problem of armed robberies on the Gold Coast. The official tally has topped 80 this year alone.
The squad of 18 of the state's best investigators reported for duty on Monday and were immediately handed a fresh case to investigate after a violent gunpoint robbery at the Kirra Sports Club.
All crimes appear to have had sophisticated planning, with the offenders' faces either partly obscured or masked by balaclavas. The priority cases are:
Southport Sharks Football Club, June 18, 2007: Just after midnight two robbers crack the club safe before being disturbed by a security guard. They threatened the guard with a black revolver before leading him in to nearby bushland where he was released. The pair escape with the cash.
Shearer's Arms Hotel, Ormeau, December 11, 2009: About 1.20am two armed men force staff to open the safe. They use cables and duct tape to tie up the two employees before escaping in the manager's car.
Norfolk Tavern, Ormeau, October 28, 2009: At 12.30am two armed men force the hotel manager and a security guard to hand over cash. They tie up the pair, fleeing in a car stolen from the hotel carpark.
Coomera Lodge Hotel, April 26, 2010: About 11pm, two staffers are confronted by two gun-wielding bandits. They are bound with duct tape and cables before being forced to divulge the safe combination. Their attackers escape in a car stolen from the hotel carpark.
Parkwood Tavern, Ashmore, August 9, 2010: About 3.40am two gunmen threaten staff and a patron. Three people are tied up before the offenders leave in the manager's car with cash.
Lost City Tavern, Coomera, October 10, 2010: Two men, one armed with a tomahawk, smash their way in to the tavern about midnight, forcing two staff to empty cash drawers and a safe before escaping.
Tallai Country Club, April 14, 2011: About 11pm, two staff are confronted by a man armed with what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun. Unable to get into the safe he flees in a staff member's car.
Kirra Sports Club, June 6, 2011: A manager arriving for work about 6am is confronted by a man believed to be armed with a gun. He is tied up before the offender flees with cash.
Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watt said police had identified several groups who could be responsible for the crimes.
"They're a committed and hard-working group of investigators and will be working hard to combat serious and organised violent crime," he said.
He said the taskforce will be a transition before a permanent serious and violent crime squad is set up in about a year's time.
State Crime Operations Command, Detective Acting Superintendent Tim Trezise said he was grateful for the extra staff resources to work with Gold Coast detectives.
"It's a particularly busy area. We have a lot of serious crime," he said.
"The situation for detectives on the Gold Coast ... is that there's never nothing to do.
"There's always too much to do, another job, another crime.
"For us to get another taskforce down here to assist us with these unsolved crimes is fantastic."
He said the taskforce would focus on the Logan, Coomera and Gold Coast police districts.
