UPDATE, 12.30pm Wednesday:
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Police have located a stolen Mazda believed to be linked to a crime spree across Warrnambool at the weekend.
Detective Acting Sergeant Blake Amos, of Warrnambool crime investigation unit, said the vehicle was found parked in Warrnambool’s Ozone car park about 12pm on Wednesday.
A Warrnambool shop owner said she noticed the vehicle on Tuesday.
“I noticed that the car had a parking ticket yesterday and then I was reading The Standard today and saw the photo of the car,” she said.
“I went to check if it was the same licence plate and it was.”
A crime scene investigation van has been set up.
A police spokeswoman said a parking ticket was issued to the vehicle on Monday.
UPDATE, 11am Wednesday:
A stolen Mazda believed to be linked to a crime spree across Warrnambool is still missing.
Detective Acting Sergeant Blake Amos, of Warrnambool crime investigation unit, said a silver 2003 Mazda Protege sedan was stolen from a Timor Street address.
He said the vehicle was still outstanding.
“Police believe those responsible for the theft are linked to a series of incidents in the Warrnambool area over the weekend,” he said.
A 19-year-old male is in police custody in Geelong after several vehicles were stolen and torched in Warrnambool.
Acting Sergeant Amos said police were seeking to locate the outstanding Mazda.
He urged anyone with information to contact Warrnambool police on 5560 1333 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
UPDATE, 10am, Monday: A GEELONG 19-year-old charged with 27 offences allegedly committed in Warrnambool at the weekend will front a Geelong court on Monday for a bail/remand hearing.
Detective Sergeant Blake Amos, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said the teenager had been charged with the offences and was now in custody.
The 27 charges include two counts of attempted thefts of vehicles, four thefts of cars, three thefts from vehicles, one deception for using a stolen credit card, a burglary at the Dennington Bowls Club, evading police while leaving the scene of that break-in and two counts of arson relating to the torching of two cars.
Detective Sergeant Amos said there was a stolen car still missing - a silver 2003 Mazda Protege sedan.
That vehicle was stolen from a Timor Street address at the weekend.
He said if any saw the stolen vehicle they should contact triple-zero and Detective Sergeant Amos requested that the vehicle not be approached.
Police said the 19-year-old Geelong man had previously been involved in similar offences when he lived in Warrnambool and was understood to be currently on bail.
"Over the weekend a significant amount of crime was reported to Warrnambool police," Detective Sergeant Amos said.
"The offender responsible is currently in custody in Geelong and will face a Geelong court today for a bail/remand hearing.
"No other person has been arrested at this stage but inquiries are continuing," he said.
Sunday: A 19-year-old male is in police custody in Geelong after a crime spree Warrnambool Police have described as “unprecedented”.
The youth was arrested in Highton at midday on Sunday after a spate of 27 crimes that happened across the weekend.
Offences include motor vehicle theft, attempted motor vehicle theft, theft from a motor vehicle, arson and burglary.
Police say the weekend spree began with the theft of a 1995 Toyota Rav4 from Deakin University on Friday night.
“That vehicle was found burnt out at the saleyards on Caramut Road 12.20am Saturday,” Senior Detective Richard Hughes said.
The offences continued with motor vehicle theft from homes on Carramar Crescent, Daltons Road, Membery Way, Nelson Street, Laverock Road and Ellerslie Grove.
Several of the vehicles were reportedly found torched across the weekend.
The teen in custody is wanted in relation to a number of other offences to have allegedly taken place over the past few weeks.
He was identified by a member of the public after being seen in a stolen car in a Warrnambool McDonalds drive-through using a debit card from an earlier motor vehicle theft.
Attempted motor vehicle thefts were also reported on Boiling Down Road, Martin Place, Yewya Street, Gateway Plaza and Hodges Drive.
Thefts from within vehicles were reported on Raglan Parade, Timor Street, Mickle Crescent, Derby Street, Kmart car park, Norfolk Plaza, Ozone car park, Pertobe Road and the Wannon Water car park.
Warrnambool police believe there was at least one more offender involved in the weekend crime spree. They are reminding residents to lock their vehicles and remove all valuables before parking for the evening, particularly in public car parks.