Steven Wilson, 47, of Whitehall Crescent, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court where he made a self-represented bail application.

He told the court he planned to contest 90 per cent of the charges.

When asked to provide compelling reasons why he should be released from custody, Mr Wilson said he had been living at a stable address for 12 years, he needed to see a psychologist and was willing to stay away from the co-accused.

He also said he needed to continue to work in order to pay for a top barrister, which he said he could not do on the inside.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said there was a strong police case against the accused, who had committed offences while awaiting a hearing in relation to other indictable charges.

He refused the application and remanded Mr Wilson in custody until November 21.

Co-accused Peter Lowe, 64, of Altona Meadows, also appeared in court via videolink. He didn't apply for bail and was remanded in custody until that same date.

Police allege about 35 bales of wool, valued at $70,000, have been stolen since January.

At one farm alone there were 18 bales stolen, worth about $24,000.

Detective Senior Constable Derek Verity, of the Warrnambool police crime instigation unit, said the two accused gained entry to a number of wool sheds by using bolt cutters or other tools to cut open padlocks.

He said on March 29 the pair were intercepted in Penshurst driving a rental car.

A search of the Hilux vehicle uncovered a 40 centimetre crow bar, beanies, head torches and bolt cutters.

A GPS tracker fitted to the rental car revealed it was located at a Dunkeld address at the time of an alleged wool theft, Detective Senior Constable Verity said.

He said an analysis of Mr Wilson's mobile phone revealed the man's Google search history, which included researching 24-hour police stations and their service areas, the distance between Lismore, Hamilton and Werribee, and wool thefts in Lismore.

He said the co-accused had a similar search history and had also researched the prices of electric cattle prods, which they are alleged to have stolen.

The pair were arrested on September 9 after their vehicle broke down in the drive way of a private address. They were found in possession of bolt cutters, screw drivers and crow bars.

Detective Senior Constable Verity said the ongoing investigation included detectives from Warrnambool, Geelong, Aarat and Ballarat crime investigation units.

He said future warrants could lead to further charges against the accused, as well as additional arrests.

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