Firefighters were called to three vehicle fires on Monday night in Ballarat that detectives are treating as suspicious. The latest wave of vehicle fires comes as  a victim of crime, who chased down alleged thieves in his underwear at 4am, says crime is spiralling out of control in rural pockets of outer Ballarat.

Veteran firefighter Brian Webber says the number of burnt out cars near his Glen Park property has dramatically increased in recent years as young people seem to dump stolen cars in parts of the forest. They are stuffing old rags in the fuel tank of cars and setting the rags alight, Mr Webber said,

Police media spokeswoman Amelia Penhall said a car was located on fire at the Ballarat Railway Station on Lydiard Street about 11.45pm. Emergency services were then called to a bus fire at Thrifty rental on Norman Street in Wendouree about 12.20am.  There was minimal damage to the bus.

“The third fire took place at a roadhouse on Howe Street in Miners Rest about 1.10am where it's believed a truck was set alight,” Ms Penhall said. Images of the fire revealed the cabin of the semi-trailer to be well alight by the time emergency services arrived. A witness said the driver’s door of the cabin appeared to be open at the time of the blaze.

“No one was injured in any of the blazes. Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating whether the fires are linked and appeal for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers,” Ms Penhall said.

Mr Webber, who managed to save his own ute, has been a victim of crime before. Four years ago he had fuel stolen and $4000 worth of electrical tools taken for his property. 

“It makes you angry, it makes you feel violated.The number of cars being burnt out is increasing. We have extinguished fires of expensive BMWs and flashy cars. It really impacts the owners.”