It’s a message that Ballarat plumbers Lachy Mahar and Scott Jacobs have already heeded.

The pair were working at Clarendon College recently when they noticed two suspicious middle-aged men inspecting Mr Jacobs’ utility.

Later they heard glass breaking just after 3pm at a nearby property on Ajax Street and went to inspect.

“We saw him running with a leaf blower, a whipper snipper and a couple of other things,” Mr Mahar said.

“We cornered him and tackled him.” 

The man was held under citizen’s arrest until police arrived soon after.

But Mr Mahar only stayed briefly before returning to work.

“I had to get some stuff done so I went off back to work,” Mr Mahar said. 

A 32-year-old Seymour man was arrested on Ajax Street and charged with burglary, theft and possession of methelamphetamine. 

He has been remanded to appear in court on October 14. 

A second man, believed to have left the scene in a vehicle, has not been located at this stage. He is believed to have fled the scene in a gold Magna station wagon with black wheels.

A statewide analysis of burglary incidents per postcode revealed that in the past year, Ballarat had 20 burglaries per 1000 dwellings.

Ballarat had a moderate level of burglaries compared to metropolitan suburbs Ardeer and Hoppers Crossing which had twice as many incidents.

And according to the most recent Victoria Police crime statistics on the per 100,000 people dataset, a slight drop in the number of residential burglaries has been recorded.

Ballarat Acting Senior Sergeant Nathan Gardiner said public awareness of locking up and securing properties had contributed to the decline.

“There is a range of reason why offenders commit burglaries. Drugs are often a contributing reason to the offending,” Acting Senior Sergeant Gardiner said.

“The public must maintain vigilance around properties and neighbours’ properties.”

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au