A forklift was used in an elaborate heist to steal new forklifts from Nacco Material Handling Group-owned dealership Hyster North in south Brisbane, Queensland.

Police said thieves entered a neighbouring property, built a platform of timber pallets beside a seven foot (2.13 metre) high retaining wall, cut through a fence above the wall, and used a larger forklift to load three new forklifts onto the platform.

Police believe the three forklifts were placed on a large truck, one at a time, before being removed from the scene.