IT might be a coincidence, but Ballarat police they are concerned about a recent spate of thefts of four-wheel drives across the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the last weeks, five four-wheel drives have been stolen from various locations around Ballarat and another two attempted to be stolen early on Wednesday morning from Bacchus Marsh.
Acting Superintendent Trevor Cornwill said in recent times police had seen Navara’s, Pajero’s and a Landcruiser stolen, with only one of those cars so far recovered.
READ MORE: Nurses cars destroyed in Ballarat central
The thefts at this stage are not being linked to recent burglaries at CFA stations across the region, but police are continuing to investigate a possible connection.
“Over the past week, we’ve had seven four wheel drivers stolen, or attempted to, from the Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat areas, which is something we haven’t seen in the past,” Superintendent Cornwill said.
Four wheel drive cars are among the most popular on the region’s roads.
“The most popular car at the moment in the area is a twin cab ute and so it does stand to reason that we see some more of these stolen,” he said.
“It’s a more versatile vehicle and you can certainly carry more things in them, so what they are using the vehicles for at the moment we’re unsure.
“What we see is once people understand how to steal vehicles, there seems to be a bit of a trend, last year there was a trend on Nissan Pulsars, so we’ll keep monitoring that.”
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.