Sunday, 9.30pm: POLICE have recovered a stolen ute and will now forensically examine it after finding it in lane on Sunday morning.
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Terang Police Sergeant Danny Brown said the vehicle, reported stolen on Saturday morning, was found in a lane between Hampden and Strong streets in Terang.
The ute's keys, in the ignition when it was stolen, were not with the recovered vehicle which also had minor damage.
"That car was towed and will be stored for forensic examination," Sergeant Brown said.
Police are still appealing for information from witnesses who may have seen anyone in the area.
"Sometimes the smallest bit of information can be the biggest help," Sergeant Brown said.
Earlier: POLICE are appealing for information following a spate of car thefts, believed to be linked, across the region.
At 2.30am on Saturday morning police attended a residence on McWilliam Street, Terang, where a number of offenders stole a white 2006 Holden Rodeo ute.
Terang Police Sergeant Danny Brown said the offenders are believed to have unhooked a trailer attached to the vehicle before stealing it.
The vehicle was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition.
The same group then attended an address in Templeton Street, Glenormiston where they attempted to steal another vehicle by entering the victim's garage and entering an unlocked vehicle parked within.
Sergeant Brown said the keys had been left in the ignition allowing the offenders to start the car and drive it to the front of the victims property.
"They have become bogged in the wet ground. In a panicked attempted to become dislodged from the mud the offenders have tried revving the motor which has alerted the owner," Sergeant Brown said.
"The owner has yelled at the offenders causing him to exit the vehicle quickly running to the white Holden Rodeo ute, stolen earlier in Terang, and driving off toward Glenormiston north.
"Police are looking for witnesses to this offending and are again pleading with the community to lock their vehicles and bring valuables inside."
It comes after opportunistic thieves stole a motor vehicle with the keys left in the ignition and other items from inside cars during a crime spree at Terang on Monday.
Police are on the lookout for a stolen sedan that could be linked to the alleged spree.
Sergeant Brown urged people to lock their vehicles for the second time in days.
"The idea of leaving your keys in the ignition overnight along with your purse and other valuables is a practice that has unfortunately passed us by," he said.
"A strong sense of community and an equally strong trust in those people should never be lost, it's the backbone and foundation of the areas success.
"However there will always be an element that will take advantage of that trust and exploit it for their own gain. They're the people we are trying to stop."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Terang Police Station on 5592 1058 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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