Police arrest man who allegedly stole two vehicles from south-west

Detective Senior Constable Richard Hughes, of the Warrnambool Criminal Investigation Unit, said a 24-year-old Delacombe man was arrested on Thursday after sparking a large-scale search.

The man allegedly stole the silver Sonata from a Lorne property at 12.30am on Monday morning.

"We believe that vehicle has been dumped in the Warrnambool, Grassmere or Port Fairy area," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.

The man allegedly stole a 1994 Mazda ute from a home in Russell Street, Dennington sometime after the first theft on Monday morning.

"The victims were inside asleep, but that vehicle was found dumped about 200 metres away," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.

The man has then allegedly attended a home in Port Fairy and stolen a green 1997 Holden ute while the victims slept inside.

"He's then driven to an address in Toolong and stole a gun safe with no guns in it, assorted cards in the name of the victim, a socket set, a Stihl brand power blower and a building tie," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.

Police say the man drove to Warrnambool with the empty gun safe on the back of the ute and allegedly stole $65 worth of petrol from the Shell service station on Raglan Parade.

"He has then driven out to the intersection of Injemira Road and Squares Road, drove the ute into a ditch and then set it on fire, totally destroying it," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.

Police claim he fled the scene on foot, entered a nearby property and stole another vehicle.

Detective Senior Constable Hughes said police called in the airwing to aid them in their search for the man.

The man was arrested at Lexton on Thursday.

He refused to be interviewed and was remanded in custody after appearing at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Detective Senior Constable Hughes described his actions as "highly dangerous".

"We've very glad - for the public's sake - that he has been arrested," Detective Senior Constable Hughes said.

He said the man would appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on September 9.

He has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, theft with regard to the incident at Toolong and the Shell service station, arson and committing an indictable offence while on bail.