A CONCERNED Ballarat resident has created a social media page to help the community find stolen items.
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Steve Murnane, 34, created the Facebook page ‘Stolen Stuff Ballarat’ on Monday morning, in response to the growing number of thefts in Ballarat.
Since its inception, the page has attracted more than 1800 members.
“We had 1000 members join in six hours,” he said.
“It surprised me. But something had to be done.”
Mr Murnane said he wanted to create a separate Facebook page, from Ballarat Buy, Swap and Sell, to report incidents of stolen property.
Group members have posted images of damaged and missing cars on the site.
The long-term Ballarat resident said he had noticed a change in the volume of thefts in recent weeks.
“Within the last three weeks, it has gotten worse,” he said.
“But I guess doing something is better than nothing, even if one person gets their stuff back.”
Mr Murnane planned to meet Ballarat Police on Tuesday to inform them of the page.
Relevant information on the Facebook page would be supplied to the police.
Mr Murnane said he would moderate the site’s content and advised against naming and shaming suspects.
“Things are getting harder these days and people need to work for their stuff,” he said. “When these people steal what you have worked hard for, it’s just not right.”
The creation of the page comes in the wake of a spate of thefts targeting Ballarat tradies in recent weeks. On Monday, Nic McDoland had his car stolen from a Redan property with a bag of tools inside.
The car was later found torched in Magpie.
It also follows the theft of $10,000 worth of power tools and computer equipment from a Wendouree business at the weekend.
Police are also investigating another two thefts at neighbouring Wendouree businesses within the past week.
kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au
