Ballarat's new saleyards have been hit in the latest round of car thefts and arson.

Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Phil Canny detailed how the thieves went about the late night raid.

"Offenders have gained entry into an office area at the Central Victoria Lovestock Exchange where they have located keys.

"They have stolen a white Toyota Hilux utility and a 6x4 box trailer which they have connected to the stolen Hilux.

"They have then left the premises then at 1.37am (Sunday) the Hilux returned towing what appears to be a larger tandem trailer."

"The offenders first arrived at the sale yards at 12.43am and left at 12.59am. At 1.37 they returned. They then stole an ATV vehicle, which was loaded onto the trailer."

The thieves also stole a number of power tools.

The Hilux was found in Wendouree just before 5am this morning. It had been destroyed by fire.

The all-terrain vehicle was recovered from the side of the Western Highway, near the saleyards. It was undamaged.

The number of offenders involved is not yet known, although police say the theft almost certainly involves more than one person.

Police are currently studying video footage and are appealing for any witnesses who saw anything suspicious in the area between 12.30am and 1.45am.

Detective Senior Constable Canny said he did not believe at this stage that the crime was related to the other burnt-out cars discovered in recent weeks.

In a statement a spokesperson from CVLX confirmed the theft and said: "CVLX management are working with the police to provide information which may help in solving this incident, including CCTV footage across the time of the theft."

Call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. 

UPDATE: 10.40am

The Courier understands there was a raid on the Miners Rest saleyards overnight, where a Polaris buggy and a white 2017 Toyota ute were stolen among other things. 

Emergency services were called to extinguish the fire in the ute on parkland in Wendouree just behind Yuille Park Primary School. 

The fire service said that the blaze occurred at 4.54am. 

It was extinguished just metres away from a burnt-out car which was found abandoned in the same park just over two weeks ago. 

The dried grass around the vehicles is noticeably full of tyre tracks. 

The Courier has contacted Central Victorian Livestock Exchange (CVLX) in Miners Rest for comment. 

INITIAL REPORT

It was a busy time for local emergency services last night with three car fires in the area put out by firefighters.

Two cars were burnt out in Ballarat.

One fire was extinguished in a vehicle left in Skipton Street in Redan at half past midnight.

The other was found burning at just before 5am in Gillies Street, Wendouree.

One of the incidents involved a 2017 White Toyota ute. The Courier is still establishing where.

Another car fire took place in Eganstown near Daylesford.

There were no reports of injuries at the moment.

It is the latest in a chain of vehicle fires that has caused serious concerns for Ballarat police.

The Courier has reported on more than 20 separate suspicious car fires so far this year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Argall has said earlier that the number of incidents are causing a major worry police.

"It's a big concern," he said. "The majority of these blazes are a result of cars that have been stolen and subsequently dumped after joy-rides or further offending."

"They're dumped out of town and torched, presumably to destroy evidence."

He also said there is "not a whole lot people can do" to protect their cars

"A large quantity of Ballarat lives in homes without garages and car ports," he told The Courier. "These random offenders are hard to patrol."

MORE INFORMATION TO COME

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