PROSERPINE Police have acknowledged similarities between break-ins two weeks ago in Proserpine and a rampage in a Cannonvale industrial estate last week.

But Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Mark Flynn couldn't confirm the break-ins were the work of the same thieves.

It is clear from CCTV footage that both burglaries were committed by a man wearing thongs and one in bare feet.

Snr Sgt Flynn also remarked that both sets of thieves had focused on stealing cash and gained entry to the nine premises robbed in the last two weeks in a similar fashion.

"We are hoping that we might be able to progress the investigation this week," he said.

The Whitsunday and Mackay CIB say there are currently no suspects.

But from these unsolved burglaries and an ongoing string of property-related crimes, the Proserpine Chamber of Commerce has begun making local businesses aware what can be done to protect property from thieves.

A comprehensive document published by the Queensland Police called BizSafe landed in the inboxes of the Chamber's members last week.

Snr Sgt Flynn said within the BizSafe document was a security assessment plan and he strongly encouraged business owners to implement changes recommended by the publication.

"There are things in the document that you wouldn't take into account until undertaking the security evaluation," he said.

Snr Sgt Flynn said perhaps not every business could afford it but "an audible alarm would be at the top of the list in terms of deterring offenders".

Snr Sgt Flynn suggested making burglary more difficult or less attractive through:

• Surveillance - natural or technical;
• Access control - restricting access and making it more difficult;
• Territorial reinforcement - establishing and maintaining ownership of the space around your business.

He said warnings, fences, gates, lighting, safes, doors, windows and alarm systems could all be installed or modified to make life more difficult for thieves.

To download the Queensland Police BizSafe document search Queensland Police and Bizsafe in Google.