It comes as police launch a firearms amnesty in the region - to run for a month from November 1 - which will allow community members to surrender firearms or weapons without fear of prosecution.

Inspector Paul Bertoncello said the amnesty was a chance for police to work with the community to remove the risk that firearms can pose.

While there are currently more than 856,000 registered firearms across the state, there are also many unregistered firearms and dangerous weapons in the community - it is these that police want to take off the streets, to make the community a safer place for everyone.

"We want to make sure that firearms that don't need to be in the community, aren't in the community where they could fall into the wrong hands," Inspector Bertoncello said. "Because we know that when they do, they are used in violent crime."

In previous amnesties, police have had a number of items voluntarily surrendered including high-powered firearms, handguns, imitation firearms and air rifles.

From people who have had firearms handed down to them but registrations have lapsed to others who are knowingly in possession of illegal weapons, Inspector Bertoncello said now was the time for people to hand in any dangerous items to police without any questions being asked or fear of prosecution so they could be destroyed.

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While the majority of registered firearm owners are responsible, vigilance is vital on rural and regional properties where farm crime is an increasing trend. Sometimes farm crime includes the theft of firearms - a growing concern for police.

While the crime rate has been low this year, with more people at home, Inspector Bertoncello said people should review their security as we emerge from months of lockdown.

With people starting to move more freely across the state and leaving their properties to go on holidays, he said registered firearms owners needed to ensure their firearms were locked up in accordance with legislative requirements.

He said the amnesty was the perfect time to assess if firearms were still required, and if not, then they could be disposed of in a legal way.

Firearms or weapons can be anonymously surrendered to Ballarat, Ballarat West, Ballarat North, Bacchus Marsh, Beaufort, Daylesford, Ballan, Creswick and Bannockburn police stations.

Police ask people to call the station prior to arriving with their items, which must be wrapped in either paper, plastic or cloth and transported in a safe and secure manner.

They can also be surrendered to a licensed firearms dealer.

The amnesty will end on November 30.

It follows others which have taken place in other divisions in the western region within the last year, including in Horsham, Ararat, Bendigo and the Macedon Ranges.

The penalty for possessing an unregistered firearm is not small: penalties start at $19,800 but can also lead to two years imprisonment.