Joe Fontana, who posted “trophy photographs” of himself making a citizen’s arrest, told The Courier he saw a man allegedly steal his ute from the front of his workshop and decided he wasn’t going to let it go. 

The result – a dramatic 17 kilometre “chase” ending in the citizen’s arrest. 

Police media spokeswoman Amelia Penhall said it is believed a group of witnesses observed a man allegedly stealing a Silver Ford Duel cab ute on Wiltshire Lane in Ballarat about 3.30pm.

A man charged over the alleged theft of a motor vehicle in Wiltshire Lane appeared briefly in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The man, who faced four charges including unlicensed driving, going equipped to steal and committing an indictable offence while on bail, made no application for bail.

When asked if there were any custody management issues, the man's defence lawyer told the court his client had injuries to the side of his face and ankle, and was withdrawing from a drug of addiction. 

The man will reappear in court on March 29.

Mr Fontana’s dramatic actions come as 93 per cent of 3000 members surveyed by the Police Association said the new “no pursuit” rules encouraged baiting behaviour.

Association members are calling for a thorough review of the policy which it says is increasing, not decreasing, the safety risks to members and the public. 

The Courier understands the number of people evading police in Ballarat has increased since the policy was introduced, with police officers fearful unlawful members of the public feel overwhelmingly safe in the car and able to do what they want since the policy was introduced.

Mr Fontana, a mechanic, said he was inside his workshop about 3.30pm on Monday when he saw a black Commodore pull up outside the business.

He said he believed police were no longer able to pursue, so had decided to followed the alleged offender himself. 

The new policy, introduced in July last year, restricted police to pursuing only when there was a threat to public safety or a serious offence, such as murder, had been committed.

Before these changes police could pursue for any offence. They had to stick to strict risk assessment. Chases would be called off if the offender was driving dangerously

In the Police Association survey members said drivers were now U-turning at booze buses, had little respect for police and were “coaching” other offenders on how to evade police.

Many police members were frustrated at the no pursuit police, seeing it as a effectively giving hoons the green light to get away with their offending behaviour.

Ballarat Inspector Bruce Thomas stressed citizens should not attempt to make an arrest or pursue people they believed were breaking the law.

“Ring triple-0. Let the police handle it,” Inspector Thomas said.

“The (new) pursuit policy has strict criteria. We obey that criteria and have a number of other tools and resources at our disposal.” 

Inspector Thomas said anyone who evaded police was “putting the community at risk as they are breaking the law and driving recklessly and at speeds over the legislated limits”.

“It is very high risk activity,” he said.

In February Road policing Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer told Fairfax Media command may change the wording in the policy to make it clearer for members when they can and can't pursue, but there will be no major policy shift.

"I'm not committing here at all in turning that current position on its head," he said. 

Mr Fryer said the number of statewide pursuits have dropped to five or six a month from 145 a month since the new policy had been introduced.

The Courier has requested a break down of evade police statistics from Victoria Police. The request is being processed.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, criminal lawyer Ugur Nedim said he advised people to "think carefully before jumping straight in to make a citizen's arrest".

"In many cases, if you witness a crime, especially if it is violent or the offender is armed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is best to dial triple zero and speak to the police."