Detective Sergeant Chris Asenjo, of the Warrnambool Criminal Investigation Unit, said a 26-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman had been arrested in the Colac area on Wednesday afternoon.

“The two have been arrested in relation to burglaries including a smash and grab at a jewellery store,” Detective Sergeant Asenjo said.

“They’ve been charged in relation to a spate of offending across Victoria in the south-west, Dandenong and the Mornington Peninsula.”

Detective Asenjo said the male had been charged with close to 80 offences including burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and arson.

The female will face a number of burglary and theft charges.

“It’s believed they have committed a number of burglaries and thefts in the south-west.”

He said police believed the pair stole a vehicle from Mortlake, drove it to Hamilton and lit it on fire, stole a number of items before returning to Melbourne, where it is believed their crime spree continued.

“It’s a pleasing result,” Detective Sergeant Asenjo said.

“It’s taken a lot of work from a number of police districts.”

The two are in custody in Warrnambool and will appear in court on Thursday.