Grant Parker said he woke up on Friday morning to find his work ute missing from his home - a Tile tracker had pinged overnight, revealing it was travelling through Meredith.

Some sleuthing online revealed it had made it to Corio, before travelling back to Ballarat where he alleges it was used by hoons as a battering ram, running into cars and signs with missing or false number plates.

People on social media sent him repeated updates - the ute had a distinctive bullbar and wooden tray, and was easily identifiable as the perpetrators went on a spree through town.

WATCH SECURITY FOOTAGE OF THE STOLEN UTE KNOCKING OVER A SIGN:

In one worrying incident on Sunday afternoon, it was seen accelerating through a Creswick Road roundabout at high speed on the wrong side of the road.

It's also alleged a firearm was produced by a driver at one point.

On Monday night, emergency crews were called to bushland in Mount Clear to find the ute fully alight.

"That was just shattering, that gutted me, absolutely gutted me," he said on Wednesday afternoon, as the ute came to rest at a wrecker's yard.

"It was my main ute for work, I had it set up with all my tools in it, everything that I used every day.

"I haven't slept since Saturday - what happens if they'd hit a family, with kids in it? At 150km/h, with my ute with its great big steel bullbar?"

Mr Parker's wife Georgie said there were years of memories associated with the ute, and their grandchild's car seat was still in the back when it was stolen.

FROM THURSDAY: Thousands spent as ute stolen from Alfredton home overnight

"Someone has been on our property," she said.

"One of my daughters saw it, they started following it - they stopped and reversed, they were chasing her, trying to ram her."

The Parkers have been in constant contact with police, and are waiting for more news on the investigation.

"They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it - we're the ones paying for it," Ms Parker said.

The theft is the second ute reported in a week, with a vehicle taken from a home in Alfredton last Thursday following an aggravated burglary.

IN THE NEWS

Victoria Police media confirmed Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating following a car fire in Mount Clear on Monday night, April 26.

Investigators have been told a Holden Colorado ute was found alight on Recreation Road around 11.40pm.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.

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