Torched cars spark unlocked vehicle warning

TWO cars have been torched during a spate of break-ins across rural Colac-Otway towns, police say.

Colac Police Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Dale Menzies is appealing for rural residents to lock their vehicles as new data shows 80 per cent of the 19 cars stolen from a cluster of regional towns this year had been unlocked at the time or had keys left inside them. “It is a concern that many of these vehicle thefts still involve unlocked vehicles with keys left inside,” Sgt Menzies said.

“Similarly unlocked motor vehicles account for the majority of the theft from motor vehicles reported for the same period.”

Several offences occurred within the Colac township however there is a trend for offenders to target farm vehicles, police say.

Sgt Menzies said cars were stolen from outer towns including Birregurra, Beeac, Cressy, Coragulac, Beech Forest, Warncoort, Gerangamete and Kawarren.

Most cars have been found but a car stolen from a Colac suburb was found burnt out at Kawarren, while another car stolen from Cressy was found destroyed by fire at Winchelsea.

Sgt Menzies said nearly all of the thefts were preventable.

“This is not a new issue but it appears many members of the community still believe that because they are living in quiet country towns or farming areas that they are unlikely to be a victim,” Sgt Menzies said.

“The prevention strategy is an easy one – at all times lock your vehicles and remove your valuables from the vehicle.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in a township or on a property, don’t give an offender an easy opportunity.”