A grey ute stolen from Mortlake that was used in a $15,000 chainsaw burglary at Coleraine has been found burnt out in Geelong.
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Detective Senior Constable Nick Roberts, of the Hamilton police crime investigation unit, said the grey Holden Colorado was stolen from a property in Mortlake's Prentices Lane between 9pm and 11pm Friday night.
The ute, valued about $20,000, was then involved in a $91 petrol drive-off at Hamilton's United Fuel soon after midnight.
"The ute was then driven by offenders to Coleraine where it was used in a commercial burglary at McDonald Rural Services in Whyte Street at 2.50am Saturday," Detective Senior Constable Roberts said.
"About 20 items worth $15,000, including chainsaws, generators and leaf blowers were stolen at Coleraine after entry was forced to the premises.
"The utility was then reported to be involved in another petrol drive-off at Ballarat Road, Bell Park in Geelong."
Detective Senior Constable Roberts said the ute had now been found burnt out overnight Sunday on the outskirts of Geelong.
He said McDonald Rural Services was hit in May last year as part of a statewide commercial burglary ring targeting chainsaws and other expensive tools.
That led to the arrest of Ballarat men on numerous burglary charges which have not been finalised in court.
McDonald Rural Services has also previously been targeted by thieves.
There have also been reports of burglaries in the past couple of days at Mortlake, including a shipping container and the theft of a trailer.
Detective Senior Constable Derek Verity, of the Warrnambool CIU, said a six by four trailer was stolen on Friday.
That trailer was then seen at the scene of an attempted burglary attached to a white Nissan Navara ute which was believed to be stolen from Naroghid, near Camperdown, on Monday last week.
It is believed that utility was involved in offending in the Corangamite region last week.
Anyone with information about any of the offending is requested to contact the police on triple zero (000) or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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