Victoria Police have released new footage amid an investigation into a wild liquor store burglary where two men smashed the entrance of the shop with a car before burning the vehicle.
Thousands of burglaries and car thefts are going un-punished in Victoria as new data reveals Victoria Police do not have sufficient resources to investigate them all.
The report of the 17,000 committed in the last year 85 per cent remained unsolved, and only 1,700 arrests were made.
Additionally, 16,000 vehicle thefts were reported last year with 65 per cent of these cases holding an unsolved status.
The raid took place in the southern Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol on Sunday, when an SUV reversed into the front of a shop on Albert Street at about 3.25am, smashing the entrance and gaining forced access to the property.
A black 2004 Ford Territory was used for the break-and-enter which police allege is a stolen vehicle.
Footage has captured the wild moment two men rammed a car into a liquor store for an alcohol burglary. Picture: Victoria Police.
After the Ford was driven into the shop, two masked men from the vehicle were seen entering the store.
The driver, dressed in a grey hoodie, black pants and a black face covering, first went inside grabbing a handful of alcohol bottles and unloading them in the boot of the car.
He was followed by the male passenger, donning a black jacket, black pants and a maroon head disguise, who entered the store with a laundry basket in hand.
The duo then filled the container up to the brim with bottles before fleeing the scene in the Territory.
They allegedly escaped westwards on Beverin Street.
The two men drove a stolen Ford Territory into the premises before stealing a laundry basket full of liquor and fleeing the scene. Picture: Victoria Police.
The footage shows the Ford in a battered-up condition at the time of the burglary.
It was missing the bonnet latch and rear passenger door, had shattered windows, and a wooden garden trellis fastened to the front passenger window.
Police believe the same car was set on fire in the neighbouring locality of Ross Creek during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A car blaze was reported at about 2.20am on Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road between Bells Road and Bowes Road.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene to find the vehicle destroyed by fire.
After running registration checks on the car, it was found to be stolen from Sutton Street in Delacombe on April 21.
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No further information about the identity of the two men is known at this stage.
Detectives from the Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit have commenced enquiries into the ram raid and released video footage to obtain any leads relating to the incident.
Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with evidence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au