The incidence and allegations of gold theft in the Eastern Goldfields in the early 1900's was of such seriousness that the Officer in Charge of the Kalgoorlie CIB at that time, Detective Sergeant Kavanagh, submitted a report on the matter which was tabled in the Legislative Council. The report lead to the formation of a Royal Commission into Allegations of Gold Stealing. The Royal Commission found that Detective Sergeant Kavanagh's allegations were substantiated and recommended the appointment of extra detectives to the Kalgoorlie CIB to detect and deter the theft of gold.

The Gold Stealing Detection Unit was established in 1908 for this purpose. The Unit was formed under the Police Department, but with the Chamber of Mines subsidising the cost of extra police staff. Prior to the formation of this Unit, the Chamber of Mines provided its own investigatory service known as "The Bureau".

The Gold Stealing Detection Unit continues to operate in the Chamber of Mines building it originally occupied in Egan Street, Kalgoorlie.

(source: "The Datum Post", Vol. 3, No. 1, March 1996)