Detective Senior Constable Elissa Smith, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said the residents arrived at their property to find someone ​at​ their home. 

“They disturbed the intruder,” she said.

“We are requested anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle or someone running in the Wollaston Road area about 4pm​ Saturday​ to contact Warrnambool police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It’s a ​busy​ area​,​ we expect someone saw something.”

Detective Senior Constable Smith said a house being renovated in Warrnambool’s Hotham Street​, between Japan and Foster streets,​ was also broken into, probably ​early Sunday.

She said a four-door white Kia sedan was seen in the area ​about 6am.

Household ​electrical goods and a tradesman’s tools were stolen.

The offenders forced entry through a window to gain access to the property.