Crooks broke into a house and stole two cars while a couple slept just metres away in a terrifying home invasion at Brown Hill on Friday.
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Senior Sergeant Wendy Lambert said officers were called to the scene of the aggravated burglary along Ada Rose Heights about 2.30am.
“The offenders gained access through an unlocked garage,” she said.
“They have removed personal items and two vehicles.”
A dark blue 2010 Kia Sportage and a grey 2006 Mazda 3 were stolen.
Ballarat police’s Divisional Response Unit has launched an investigation into the incident.
Senior Sergeant Lambert called on residents to ensure their homes were secured, especially around carports.
“We are seeing offenders gaining access through doors between garages and houses,” she said.
It comes after new data from the Insurance Council of Australia revealed the number of claims for thefts of cars or items from cars had rocketed across Victoria in recent years.
Claims increased by 62 per cent in the year to April, 2017, when compared to the same period in 2015, according to the report.
Thefts of cars or property from cars resulted in $72 million in claims in the year ending April, which was the highest in the country.
The average insurance premium also increased by 6 per cent in Victoria.
In contrast, claims in NSW fell by 12 per cent.
And $92 million in claims was dished out for theft and burglary from Victorian houses in the same time period, which was almost twice as much as any of the other states.
Anyone with information about the break-in is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to crimestoppersvic.com.au.