Lead volunteer Sheilagh Kentish suspected crooks reversed a car along its northern side on Sunday night, loading up with tools after breaking through wire fence and smashing the padlocks of two tin sheds.

It comes just a week after the vegetable garden was burgled in a similar incident on May 25, leaving those who use the block shaken and distraught.

Ms Kentish said the garden’s volunteers had successfully approached Ballarat City Council for money to buy a shipping container, which would be more secure than the tin sheds to store tools.

But red tape held the process up and a permit was not granted until recently, according to Ms Kentish.

Ballarat City Council's director of development and planning Angelique Lush said the permit was delayed because the landowner's permission was needed.

“Consent from the landowner to develop the land, which in this case was not council land, was required to grant a planning permit,” she said. “The planning permit was issued within two weeks of receiving consent from the landowner.”

But this allowed enough time for thieves to strike twice and break into the site on the corner of Queen Street and Dyte Parade, stealing thousands of dollars worth of gardening tools.

Ms Kentish reserved special praise for Ballarat police, who she said were doing everything they could to catch the culprits.

“Police have been really helpful, they always do the best they can,” Ms Kentish said.

Tools stolen in the last two weeks included a whipper snipper, cordless drill, angle grinder, petrol container, mowers and other small tools.

It comes one year after thieves stole $10,000 from the volunteer-run organisation in June 2016.