Expensive bikes, car stolen during Warrnambool crime spree

The ute was stolen from Morriss Road while the owners were sleeping inside their home. They were alerted to the theft when the engine started.

The vehicle had been parked on the grass outside the house but was unlocked and the keys were left in the ignition.

Warrnambool detectives and crime scene officers examined the vehicle.

Sunday: A stolen ute was used during a break-in at a Warrnambool store where two bikes worth $25,000 were taken on Saturday.

Acting Detective Sergeant Wayne Ryan said the burglar stole the most expensive bike in the store during the burglary which lasted just two minutes.

"Whether it was stolen to order or just random we don't know. It could have been pure dumb luck that he took the most expensive bike in the store," Acting Detective Sergeant Ryan said.

He said the offender appeared to be well-versed in what they were doing, using packing tape to break in through the front door of Royal Bikes on Raglan Parade about 6.38am.

One of the stolen bikes was a Cervelo road race bike worth $18,000. The other was a Focus mountain bike worth about $7000.

Store owner Shaun King said he was shocked by the break-in but it was fortunate that only two bikes were taken.

"It's kind of shocking that it's happened. You just feel violated more than anything," he said.

"It would have been a big loss if we weren't insured."

Mr King said he had been notified by security about the break-in on Saturday morning.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ryan said the break-in triggered an audible alarm which may have been why the offender - who was wearing gloves, a mask and a hoodie - spent such a short amount of time in the store.

"The guy knew what he was doing...this wasn't his first rodeo. The alarm would have been blaring at him," Mr King said.

"Obviously crooks don't like noise and they've been in the shop for a very short time," Acting Detective Sergeant Ryan said.

The 2005 Holden crewman ute used in the burglary was stolen from Morriss Road about 3.47am - the owners who were sleeping inside the house were alerted to the theft when the engine started.

The vehicle had been parked on the grass outside the house but was unlocked and the keys left in the ignition.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ryan again renewed police appeals to owners to secure their vehicles

"Unfortunately the vehicle has been used to go on an commit another offence," he said.

Acting Detective Sergeant Ryan appealed to anyone in the cycling community to keep an eye out for the bikes.

He said police were also still looking for the car.

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